The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-15

The following letter has been received
for publication in 1.-THE Morning News: \
Wilmington. Del, August 10, 1896.
To the Advisory Committee Of the Re
publican Party in the State of Delaware.
Gentlemen: l hereby resign. as of this
date, my membership in your body. Our
mutual relations have been so cordial and
courteous that take this step with much
reluctance. 1t is due to you as 1t Is to me
that should state the reasons which have
led me to my conclusion. After a careful
consideration Of the political situation and
OF the attitude OF leading and influential
members Of the Advisory Committee to-
ward compromise with Addickslsm in
this county for the sake Of results at the
polls. l can consistently and honorably
pursue no other course than that of resig-
nation from the committee. regard Ad-
dicksm as political curse-a cancer
which must be eradicated If the Republican
party is to command popular respect or de-
serve success, and l believe that our first
duty is, not to make terms with, but
wholly to destroy that baneful influence,
whether we meet with success or defeat at
the approaching election; with the single
limitation that under the insistence Of the
Republican National Committee only one
set of Presidential and Vlce-Presidential
electors should be voted for. These views
have been shared by most Of the gentle
men with whom | have recently been in
political cooperation. The future of Re-
publlcanism In Delaware has furnished the
only guide by which | have endeavored to
regulate my political action with respect
to Addicksism. l cannot serve as men,
Der of any committee of which a majority
are at this juncture willing to cooperate
either with Mr.. Addcks or any of Mr. Ad-
dicks's lieutenants. | should deem it a
clear abandonment of principle and, also
especially inpoitlc in view of the situation
in Sussex county.
There is wide and irreconcilable diver
gence OF opinion between several of the
most influential members of the commit
tee and myself upon the propriety of ad-
hitting Mr.. John NJ. Clayton to seat in
the Second District Convention held last
Saturday. Mr., Clayton appeared before the
committee on credentials, of which | was
chairman, and in answer to questions ad-
dressed to him stated, among other things:
l. That he was at the time member of
the Addicks New Castle County Committee.
committee. or give any pledge upon the
subject.
3. That, as between the nominees of the
Georgetown convention and Of the Dover
convention. respectively, he should sup
port and vote for Messrs. Honecker and
Willis, and not for Messrs. Higgins and
Houston.
so FAR as giving any direct information
as to whether he was in truth an Addicks
or an anti-Addicks man, he might Just as
well have been an Egyptian sphinx. Why
did not MIR Clayton. If he be really opposed
to Addlcksism, openly so state? He would
have had the same influence in his hundred,
and by such proclamation would have
much advanced our cause. Upon this show
ing majority of the committee struck his
name from the roll for the following rea-
sons: !
!. That he was not eligible as a delegate |
under the terms of the call
q That he was not a member of the party |
represented by the Georgetown convention.
minority report was made in favor of |
MT. clayton, and he was seated. He re- |
ceiVed the open support in the convention /
OF the member of the Republican National |
committee for Delaware, without which it |
Is at least doubtful whether the report of |
the committee would have been rejected. |
The action thus taken have the best rea- |
son to believe met the approval of other |
influential members Of the advisory COM |
mittee.
With respect to the case Of Mr.. CLAW
ton, gentlemen, have to say that I
deem it an insult to any reputable Repub-
hat |
holding Of the Georgetown Convention,
he should be compelled to sit and vote
in a Republican convention with a man.
serving on Mr., Addicks's committee, re-
fusing TO resign from that committee and
openly declaring his intentions as against
Messrs. Higgins and Houston, to support
ana vote Tor The Dover nominees. | can
discover neither principle nor consistency
IN such course. In my judgment it is
unjustifable and without adequate excuse.
In fact the only excuse attempted was
mat by compromise with the Addicks
men IN St. Georges hundred our ticket
might be strengthened, and that by some
mysterious political jugglery or deception,
and by carrying water on both shoulders.
Mr.. Clayton, II he can be trusted, might
ultimately turn over to US a considerable
number OF men who would otherwise be
Addicks voters Part Of the compromise,
as | am Informed, was the nomination of
an avowed Addicks adherent for some
hundred or local office
l shall have no part or lot in such
scheme. I do not approve Of the cultiya-
ton OF that species of politics. regard
1t as reversal ard abandonment of the
policy heretofore pursued by us, totally
excluding any compromise of such
| cannot cooperate in the
practical PRONUNCIATION of this new doc
trIne at such utter variance with the pol
Icy for which. during many months, We
have so sturdiIy contended.
Pardon me, If by any blunness of ex-
preseason on my part / have wounded
the feelings OF any gentleman in the ad-
vIsory committee. Such has not been nv
purpose. My convictions en- the subject
are strong, and r feel sorely disappointed
at the altitude OF many of the members
Of the Committee with whom | had hoped
to Cooperate for the welfare of
the Republican party.
In my own way ! shall perform nv no.
utical duty as ! understand 1t. Whatever
effect this step may have on my political
standing, | shall at least have the appro-
val OF my Judgment and my conscience
Very truly yours, Edward G. Bradford.