Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-29
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On the Doth Of October. 1889, a |
monument to Cesar Rodney, the
famous son of Delaware who made
the memorable ride to Philadelphia for
the purpose of casting the vote OF his
State in favor of the immortal Declara-
tion of Independence, was unveiled with
fitting ceremonies in the town Of Dover.
A feature Of the occasion was an au-
dress by Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, in
the course of which he said:
10 you, young gentlemen OF the Rod
ney Club, and to those OF your genera.
tion must soon BIS entrusted the control
OF the State he loved and served 30
we'll.
What lesson will you gather from his
lifeY Let his objects, his methods,
consideration of his springs of action,
inform you.
When political action and measures
of government are proposed, or candi.
dates arb presented or present them
selves, apply the test of Rodney and
ask: Will this measure or this mans
election promote tho welfare and repu-
tation of my State and country"
Do not permit the great and real
ends OF free government to be obscured
by the passions Of party, or OF petty
factions, or self interest. Lift your
minds into higher and clearer and
happier atmosphere.
In our day the creation of material
wealth, the result Of modern invention
and the protection insured to it by a
government of laws, have begotten
luxurious living and spirit OF plu-
| tocracy, widely different from true Re-
| pubiicanism, an insolent and miserable
| system containing all the faults of an
| aristocracy and not one of its virtues.
This to-day imperils the fabric of
government reared by Rodney and his
| associates, and threatens to overflow
| our little State from exterior sources.
| The presence and use of money
| gathered in richer centres to influence
elections here is one of the features of
| plutocratic aggression, against which
we should be on our guard, and every
man who loves the good name of Della
ware should openly denounce it.
Power is given TO Congress to fix the
| standards of weights and measurement,
but the other standards are as neces-
sary, which no written lava can sun
ply. ! mean the standards of political
morality, of personal and official
character and competency. Popular
conscience and the tone Of the com
munity must establish these, and upon
those who assume the functions OF
leadership the chief responsibility of
setting the example must fall,
There ia class of minds to whom
poverty is meyer respectable. but always
contemptible; who continually mistake
bigness for greatness, and who count
men and do not weigh them.
To such persons the simple lives oil
the patriots who pledged their lives,
their fortunes and their sacred honor
for the yindication of principle, vii
!, ever remain sealed book.
Viewed in the light of subsequent
political events in this State, tn
words of Mr.. Bayard above quoted
seem like prophetic warning. Thor
were then but slight intimations of tn
flood of political corruption which late
spread over Delaware, and found it
elimination at the election of tw
years ago, but there was sufficient +
} Justify the sound admonitions of Mr.
Bayard, and give weight to his solemn
3 warning.
1t is within the bound of ordinar
: vision TO individualize the figure dc
0 scribed by the speaker as of tina
! "class of minds to whom poverty
8 never respectable, but always cor
d temptible; who continually miatak
bigness for greatness, and who cour
II men and do not weigh them" We
II did he add that TO such mon the simp
y lives of those who laid the foundation
> of our great Republic twill ever i,
o main sealed book. "
n This same "class of minds'' is a
}, issue in the pending campaign in th
~ State. Its influence is being directe
i towards corrupting the minds and col
J. sciences of voters, and thus securing
l. political triumph by the basest mean
l. Against this influence the moral sent
y ment of the State should resolute
= array itself, and deal it ouch crus
ing blow that it will never force i
!, offensive presence into public vie
" again.