Middletown transcript., 1895-12-14
MIDDLErowN, DEL, DEC. IA, 1895.
HYPOCRITICAL HANDY.

HYPOCRIT1CAL HANDY
If there is despicable character II
society it is the hypocrite who is con
stantly pointing out the Shortcomings
of better people. Such a character il
the editor Of Euery Evening and sucf
is that paper, editorially, and we have
proved 1t again and again SO pointedlJ
that Mr.. Handy can make no reply
The question of seating Col. du POM
and the publication of the petition te
.sread Addicks and Handy out Of the
partyn has started the Eusry Euenins
on its vilification Of the Republican
Party again. On the 10th inst, it said
1.-THE responsibility for our political
disrepute began in 1888 when Republi.
can corruption followed upon the heels
of Democratic dissension and bought
triumph at the polls in Sussex county.
1t eliminated year ago., when the
corruption fund SO libera]ly distributed
by the agents of Addiaks again swept
SUSSEX county into the Republican
fold.v
- It-fias only been few months since
ths Every Evening published a letter
from Mr.. Thomas B. Coursey, Repub-
lican candidate for governor at the
time Governor Ponder was elected
which stated that bribery in this State
began with the payment of taxes years
ago and has gradually grown and that
the Democratic Party has had its full
share in this debauchery of the voters.
This letter had the editorial endorse
ment of the Hypocritical Handy at
that time, and is complete refutation
of the charge he makes in the above
quotation. But more than that. 1t
has been publicly stated, time and time
again, and never denied, that Mr..
Coursey wrote to Mr.. Ponder at the
beginning of their campaign, proposing
to put their stamp of disapproval upon
bribery by refusing to contribute to a
corruption fund. Mr.. Ponder never
answered though he could have no
doubt of the sincerity of Mr.. Coursey's
offer. Money was used by the Demo-
Gratis in that election, though Mr..
Ponder may not have contributed to a
corruption fund, and he made Delaware
a very acceptable governor. But the
facts remain and they favor the hypoc-
risy of Euery Evening.
No man knows better than L. Irving
Handy how utterly false is the state
ment he makes in the quotation above.
He was then Salisbury follower, re-
siding at Smyrna, and he knows that
the Democrats in their primary elections
in Kent county in 1888 spent more
money, Salisbury vs.. Wolcott, than
they spent at the general election and
the Democrats spent more money at
that election than did the Republicans.
Handy was supposed to be kicker, he
was of the ''dissension," and he knows
of the corruption fund. In 1883 the
Democrats spent more money than did
the Republicans in Sussex county, and
the county went Republican despite
the Democratic bribery fund. Mr..
Wolcott, a candidate for senatorial
honors, was credited by his friends with
spending more money at the primaries
than the Republicans had in the whole
of Sussex county. The writer was in
tie campaign ef eff 1883 1883 ia Sussex county,
a candidate before the people, and be
knows whereof he speaks. So does
Mr.. Handy and he knows how false are
his statements.
A year ago the Democratic bribery
fund was the largest tEey have ever had
in this State, and that is saying great |
deal. one company being credited with |
giving twenty-five thousand dollars to |
that fund to defeat Addicks, and re-
putable men say that Mr.. Handy, who |
is chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, scorned in public speech |
the idea that the Republicans could
overmatch the Democrats in the
amount of money they had. 1t is
doubtful if it was done. Delaware
went Republican because the senti-
ments of her voters ware that way.
It is true that "the agents Of Addicks
literally distIibuteda corruption fund"
but it was as the agents Of Mr.. Addicks
and not as Republican officials nor was
Mr.. Addicks solicited to contribute by
the officials Of the party, nor could
individuals in the party control his
actions any more than they can put the
truth in the mouth of the editor of
Every EUening, hence the insult of
Euery Euening to the 629 signers to the
protest." claiming that they "were
delighted as long as Mr.. Addicks was
keeping up his business of political
debauchery in Kent and Sussex count
ies." is on a par with his treatment of
all men who differ with him.
But the most conclusive of all facts
as to the hypocrisy of Eoery Evening is
the enc that its owner and proprietor
contributed ten thousand dollars to the
Democratic corruption fund as its
for Congress and its editor
boasted in public speech that Repub.
lican dollar would be met with Demo-
cratic dollar. ANY honest man would
be ashamed to show his face in public
were he guilty of the hypocrisy that lies
at the editorial door of Erery Evening.
But what is the ''political disrepute?'
We have shown that it is not the buying
and the selling Of votes in thee OF
Euery EUening, since the Democratic
Party are the older and the greater
offenders. 1t is in the publication of
The facts to the world Of which the