New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-05
DELAWARE POLITICS.
EVILS OF sECTIONALIJM AND CORRUP-
TION.

fFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBrNE.l
Wilmington. Del. March 4-Charles Reade in
one Of his novels illustrates with comical dia-
gram the provincialism Of English squire.
The exaggerated outline OF the county embraces
a large part Of the printed page: Great Britain
and Ireland shown In miniature side.
and the terrestrial ball hardly larger than a PIN
head. is almost invisible in corner. From the
squire's point OF view the county the great
est thing on earth: the United Kingdom Of
subordinate Importance and the round world
utterly insignificant. That is a faithful parable
of Delaware provincialism. The county is Of
paramount Importance. The State Is the county.
with two other counties annexed to it. The
United States Of America is a geograp hcal ex-
preston which does not enter into practical poll
tics As for the world, which is alleged To be
turning on Its axis every day and circling around
the sun every year what there be outside of
Delaware that is worthy Of serious consdera
ton?
The struggle now going on in Dover over the
election of a United States Senator brings out
in a strong light this narrow provincialism or
thought. The Republicans have nineteen votes
in a Legislature of thirty members. They have
the power of eIecting a Senator in crisis of
National politics when a single vote Is or ire
mendous importance in Washington. With forty
two Republican Senator's already elected and two
Popusts who can be depended on to vote with
them on National issues. tho choice OF an addi-
tional Republican Senator from Delaware VIII
secure party control of the Upper House. re-
assignment Of committees and the adoption Of
National policies The majority Of the delaware
Legislature have the responsible duty Of REIN
forcing the Republican column in the United
States Senate and Of securing a victory for their
OF
ator from Delaware may depend the control OF
legislation at Washington during the next two
years The security Of National finance. the pro-
lection Of many hundreds of industries and the
restoration Of prosperity 20 the country may be
paramount issues t. be determined by the choice
Of a Senator at Dover; but these things do not
seem 10 interest the politicians there. II they
have an Intelligent comprehension OF them Ihey
are preoccupied with sectional rvalries and local
envy and strife. County supremacy means
more - them than a National triumph OF their
party or a service Of iuestimable value to be rem
dered 10 the suffering industries Of the country.
with them IT IS , question Of Sussex against
New Castle or If Kent plotting with one against
the other and eager to gain an advantage over
both.
six years ago. when the Republicans had six
teen votes against fourteen i'm the Legislature
carried Sussex UNEXPECTEDLY. and by aggressive
campaign work had maze it possible for the
Republicans 20 elect a United States Senator FOR
the first time In a generation. was Charles H.
Treat. By party service and by personal char
acter and brilliant leadership he was entitled to
election to the senate: bur Kent disputed his
claims and brought forward two candidates.
George V Massey ana y. B. Smithers. and there
was a prolonged faction fight In caucus which
ended I'm the election OF Anthony Higgins, from
New Castle "a a compromise candidate. senator
Higgins has greatly distinguished himself in
Washington. and has shown that he has the iull
stature ~ National statesman; but although
he Is entitled 10 reelection upon his record and
has the support or the majority OF his own
county delegation Sussex has a candidate OF It's
adoption In the person OF Mr.. Addicks and
Kent with only one vote H. the Legislature. Is
nominally supporting Mr.. Massey. although the
marty organization is behind Mr.. Addicks; and
Mr. Massey who defeated By Mr.. higgins
six years ago. Is either compacently ENJOYING
political revenge or else is aspiring To name
compromise candidate from Kent and To give
both Sussex and New castle dose Of their own
medicine
This political provincidlism-l do not know OF
better words not confined 10 the Republican
cratic faction politics when the Bayards were
rohting TIE. Saulsburys and the two southern
counties were arrayed against New Castle. Pre-
.ls.ly AS there Was a Mason and Dixon line IN
National politics SO also there has been section
al line drawn across the state OF Delaware. sepa-
rating the populous manufacturing county "t
Now, Castle from the two southern agricultural
counties; and Dover and Georgetown. while Jeal-
Gus = IN. ascendancy of Wilmington and banded
together for mutual protection. have frequently
u,lI.J ,u,rt whenever the ambitions OF their
local leaders have come into conflict. The state
has always been a hotbeI Of faction and section
alism Its politics have never risen above the
level of county intrigue and local jealousy.
During the long period OF Democratic ascen-
dantv the factions We're only united upon one
issue and that persistent recourse 10 the low
est forms II political trirkery for DISTINGUISHING
voters by ,cntemptbe devices. and thereby pre-
venting the conversion OF Delaware into Repub-
lican state Public opinion in the State has been
thoroughly demoralized by a generation OF Demo
cratic foul play and corruption. \ political des-
potism was established on the foundations or
trickery and cheating and then proppei mp and
held together by scaifolding al bribery ana
vote buying.
As far back "a 1881 the payment Of a county tax
WAS made a constitutional requiI ement for the eX
.rcsr OF the right Of suffrage. Electors who
not prOpert y-OwnerS Were compelled to pay poll |
tax ranging from 80 cents To- S.. What was orig- |
nally intended aS a substitute for registry law
was converted, after the civil War, into an in
srumcnt for diStra nchising Republican voters
and rendering Mr.. Bayard's pocket borough safe |
~ Democratic under all circumstances. II was in
March 1872. that the Democratic collectors OF
taxes Illegally struck from the lists OF electors
the names OF large number OF negro voters |
When these officials were prosecuted In the |
United States courts. special laws were enacted |
for DISTINGUISHING Republicans without distinc- |
ton of race or color. Under these statutes the |
tax collectors were authorized To make return |
in March Of all delinquent taxpayers and 10 drop |
their names from the lists of voters FOR twelve |
months. II the action Of the officials had been |
mandatory the law would have operated against |
voters OF both parties: but by statutes cunnngy |
devised for the purpose. IL was left 10 their ais
erection whether the names Of delinquents should |
III, lion fhn Iai or stricken from II. Inc OF |