Middletown transcript., 1896-12-12
hIDDLEToWN. DEL. DEC. l2, 1886
TIME ron ACTION.

WIG VI buo HuuukCuo VI uuio OOuuoy q
few days before the election where
fourteen men we're engaged on piece
of work, the subject Of the election was
discussed and during the discus
sion twelve of those electors boldly de-
clared that they were in the market
and would sell their votes to the party
which would offer them the most
money. The time for action has ar
rived. .n-Lewes "Pilot," Dec. 5, 1896.
We agree with the "Pilot" that "the
time for action has arrived" and in no
partisan sense we hope the remedy
may be found for stamping out this
great evil which with its attendant
evils threatens the peace of society and
the very foundation of good govern
ment. We deplore the bribery which
prevails in the State and we condemn
it but the "col s,ienceless specimens of
humanity'' could do little harm were
they confined to the class referred to
by the "Pilot." There can be no
bribe taker where there is no bribe
giver. Let us include the latter. in our
timely action. True he is often "re-
spectable'' member of society and
what counts more in his favor he has
pull with the powers that be and has
or takes special license to himself. He
is a Specimen that should feel the
condemnation Of the "Pilot" and Of
every other honest member of society.
From the bribe giver We should pass
up or down, since the more intelligent
an offender against the law the greater
his responsibility and the more is ex-
pected of him, then let our condemna-
tion pass on down to the men who
cheat citizens Of their votes, who steal
elections, who plan and arrange for the
cheating and stealing by their tools
and dupes. To our way Of thinking
these are the men who require the at
tention Of theta and the officers Of
the law and the law makers rather
than poor fellows who accept bribes.
The latter are the tools, the product of
the former, and they should all 60 to-
gether. We want to say here and now
that "the time has arrived" for the
suppression Of every wrong against a
free and fair ballot in Delaware,
whether the wrong be committed under
the cover of law or in open violation
of the statutes. Let the members of
the Constitutional Convention and Of
the General Assembly take due notice
and govern themselves accordingly, or
for the future the responsibility for
wrong doing will rest largely against
them.
Il is asserted, and with every evi-
dence of being true, that a prominent
candidate 10 New Castle county for a
seat in the United States Senate,
planned the attempt to steal the cleo.
tion in this county which the eleven
inspectors undertook. to execute by
changing The election returns. Is such
a man fit for any position of honor and
trust in the State? Let the "Pilot"
condemn him. And the writer of
Democratic Glasses in the Sunday
ssStar" Of Dec. 9th, let the "Pilot''
condemn him Fl sying Of this mat
ter: "The quashing of the indict-
ments against the inspectors ofelection
who were charged with false returns at
the last election is another instance of
the foolishness of such tactics. The
men were reputable citizens and be-
yond suspicion, and their arrest was
an outrage Here is writer in a re-
putable paper who despite the charge
. of the Chief Justice denouncing the
political outrage Of the stealing and
. the attempt at stealing, despite the
opinion of the Attorney Generaland his
deputy, despite the indictments of the
Grand Jury, has the impudence to say
the arrest Of the inspectors was an out
rage. Every intelligent citizen knows
he is writing for political effect and in
our opinion he is as bad as the men
who falsified the returns and is worse
than the poor fellows whom the "Pi-
lot, denounces. What does the "Pilot"
think of him?
.Time for actionl" Yes, years ago
but because action has been delayed is
no reason why it should not be taken
now. Here Is a clipping from the
aMilford Chronicle" Of Nov. %, 1890:
ssLaurel, Delaware, has gained an
unenviable reputation for lawlessness
that would do credit to western min
ing town. Her election day riotS was
equal to the most approved bull-dozing
of Mississippi, and her local papers re-
port occurrences that In any more
civilized community would draw down
the strong arm Of the law on the par
ticipants. Her Democratic majority is
over 400. It's wonder it isn't larger.
IL Federal Election Law is needed
for any place in the Union, that place
is certainly Laurel, Delaware.
Every word of the above is true but
the election Of 1895 went Democratic
in Kent and Sussex counties and no
word OF condemnation as to bribery or
The bnll-dozing tactics introduced at
that election was forth coming from
the Democratic papers. These same
papers had for two years preached
about the bribery Of 1883, when the
Republicans won, but in 1880 and 1892
when at least three times the money
was used st the election they had
nothing 10 say. They have controlled
legislation and dominated politics in.
DeIaware for years. and they are re-
sponaibie for the present condition, but
lei that pass. Every good citizen
should now turn ID and assist in every
way possible to bring about better