Evening journal., 1896-03-31
Stand % ana Flahs. DOM. Hlas.

Political history has demonstrated
that party which, for the sake of OBJ
tanning temporary advantage. resorts
70 dishonesty. short cuts and evasions,
and places Itself on the defensive before
the public, loses much more thereby than
II would were It to pursue a straight
forward, honest course along the lines
which naturally radiste from the great
principles OF polity which uuderlie It's
organization.
Parties are responsible for their chosen
seents At the bar Of public opinion Just
As individuals are responsible for their
agents in the ordinary legal tribunal, and
the verdict hangs largely upon the con-
duct Of those agents. It Is all very well
for man to say that he votes for prin-
oipals and measures rather than for men.
but we must not lose sight OF the fact
that 1t requires good men 70 live up to
good principles, and create and enforce
good measures.
We 60 not believe that the Democratic
psrty will gein any lasting advantage
bg the reported actions OF the clerks OF
the pesce Of Kent and Sussex counties
Indeed it Is doubtful whether even
temporary advantage will accrue to the
party As result of their actions. They
have placed the party Ia position where
It can neither justify its agents or itself
They have succeeded in keeping q
handful Of Republicans from being
assessed, and thereby deprived them OF
the right OF franchise; but, have they
and their advisers considered the con-
sfqnencetl
The public likes manly party just ss
II likes manly man, AMI does not give
It's moral support to party whose
SCENTS run and secrete themselves, when
they ought to stand out in the open, and
defend the principles Of thst party
which placed them In a position Of trust
and responsibility
We believe that the action Of the two
men referred to will cost the party more
votes than they imagine, and that, in the
long run, the Republicans win reap the
benefit Of an ill-advised scheme to help
the Democrats.
Our party has control OF the Levy
Courts in all three counties. together
with the election machinery which goes
with them. Such a power should have
been sufficient TO protect the party
interests in a proper manner without
having to resort to means for which the
patty must stand before the public in a
position Of humble apology and with nc
reasonable excuse to offer
Last election We had the East Dover
hundred tax collector escapade. Did va
gain any lasting advantage Not Q
particle It WAS one Of the best campaign
documents put out by the Republican
managers, and made votes AL over tbs
state Nov we have the Kent and
Sussex county managers playing more
trump cards into the hands of theiI
opponents, aud furnishing them with
msterlal for the framing Of an indiot
msnt TO which the party al over the
state must plead guilty.
We do not mean to say that the men
who we're left off the books should hsv,
been put on. We know nothing Of theli
age or residence, or Of the vouchers that
they produc ID in support OF their claims
OF citlzsnshlp, but we do say that th'
tctIon Of thu clerks OF the peace Ia alb
sentlng themselves from their posts O
duty viii do mora TO oonvince the public
that the men were entitled to be put OF
the books than column after column o
Republican argument to like fleet
Republicans Of Delaware are desperate
We know. and have been for sewers
years it Is incum bent upon the Demo
Gratis who control the various branches o
state ard county government, to kee
them within the bounds OF decency an'
good order. but in doing 80 our part
does not require its SCENTS to sink them
selves and IT, to the Republican level o
politics