Middletown transcript., 1895-05-04

the U6ll6Idi ASSAULT Dly.
CORRUPTION IN THE SENATE"
1.-THE audience in the lobby of the
Senate last Thursday afternoon were
treated to a spectacle as criminally
realistic as was ever presented in any
prisoners box of any jail court in this
State. This was the occasion when
the Republican party through three of
its Senators, pleaded guilty of an inten-
tion to continue fraud, bribery and
corruption at our elections. linden,
May I'd.
The above is the caption and first
paragraph of an editorial from the
Inder of this week. That the Inder
has become suddenly virtuous and
honestly desires fair elections no one
acquainted with the course of that
paper in the past for a moment, be-
lieves. What does it seek then in its
advocacy of the passage of this bill?
We will tell, and tell you truly and
without prejudice, if you will read
this brief article.
What were the motives that actuated
Senators Handy, Moore and Pierce in
voting against the bill "to provide for
the secrecy and purity of the ballot"
we do not know. but the impression
the Inder would give, corruption in
she Senate" is gratuitous insult.
Since in many matters the TRAN
SCRIPT has differed with the three gen.
tlemen named during the session Of
the General Assembly, it is pleasure
to justify their votes on this bill. In
the first place, the mere name, "secrecy
and purity of the ballot" is no proof
that the bill is what it purports to be, or
that it would accomplish what is
claimed of it, if it is offered in all sin
cerity. We do not mean to question
the patriotism of Mr.. Pyle in offering
this bill, but when a party that has
practised and defended questionable
political methods for years, becomes
suddenly converted, we look around
for the reason.
The people of New Castle county do
not comprehend the extent to which
bribery has been carried in Kent and
Sussex counties. For Democratic tes-
timony corroborative of what we say,
we refer to an editorial from the Susser
Journal of last week to be found on
our first page. That paper is edited
by two young men of character and
ability, nor do we believe that partisan
bias blinds and binds them as we fear
it does too many editors. The Journal
says ''the heads of families and their
sons are selling their votes openly and
without sense of shame" This con-
dition of affairs has not suddenly
arisen it is the education of years.
We know good Methodist official and
good Democratic official as well, and
he is a good officer, faithful and honest,
who has for years made donation out
of the party funds to certain other
Methodists andIDemocrats who are not
officials, and defends the action as
right and just. He argues, "you are
Democrat but because you are def
cient in education you cannot hope and
expect office from your party and there
is nothing improper in my giving from
the party funds and in your receiving
an election day present
after the vote is cast-equal to the
amount given to, or paid, the others.
L have an office, you have none 1 will
divide with you on election day-after
you have voted" And on Sunday |
those men meet in the classroom, the |
one as leader (and tempter), the other
as follower land deluded victim). No i
slur is meant against the Methodist |
Church in which we w,re born, and |
whose history and success and service
we love. The memory of christian
father who often stood in the sacred
desk, is too dear to slur at any church,
but the evil under discussion demands
that the truth shall be told, nor do we
spare our own in the telling.
In 1870 the Republican candidate for
governor wrote to his Democratic
opponent proposing that they should
not themselves contribute anything
towards a corruption fund, and that
they should discountenance and dis
courage the use of money by their
several committees. The letter re-
mains unanswered to this day; the
republican contributed no money the
Demecrat was elected, and both gentle.
men are yet living south of Dover to-
day.
In 1882 the only money which the Re-
publicans spent was about thousand
dollars raised by Mr.. George v. Massey
and his Dover friends, which was used
in Kent county: and in Sussex county
The Republicans urged the Democrats
not to spend money uselessly, as the Re-
publicans had none, but the Democrats
insisted on making election day pre-
'ents-always after voting-like our
good Methodist official.
Il
This has been the practice with the
Democrats Of Kent and Sussex for
thirty years, and for thirty years the
Democrats have had control Of all
legislation in this state, and yet it has
not been stopped, nor an attempt made
to stop it.
In 1889, after the Republicans won,
Democratic leaders pretended to want
,he English Penal Colony Ballot Law,
out the writer had a voice and a vote
n Its defeat, and for the same reasons
hot tha Drr;tx, of D:1Y r.t i