Middletown transcript., 1896-12-05
MIDDLETOWN, DEL, DEC. S. 1896
poL1r1cAL nEvoLUTIoN.

scarcely conceive of the political stu.
alton in Kent county, of the strained
relations which exist because of theil
election difficulties. There have been
intimations of bloodshed on the part
of the papers and the people there Of
both parties at which others have
pooh-poohed. The feeling is intense,
however, and the attempt to laugh il
> down may but irritate and heighten
the difficulty. 1t is a dsplorable state
of affairs, and is The result of the 20.
litical methods which have been the
growth Of years. These methods have
had the sanction for half a century OF
less by ofigination, adoption and use OF
the very party which now defeated by
them turns to revolutionary methods
to retain itself in power. This is dan,
gercus. 1t is surprising that reasonable
nen can approve of it. Courts and law
and order are not to be considered by
them when they stand in the way Of
party supremacy. To what are we
comingp political revolution" in
many sections Of this country wou ii
mean riot and bloodshed. 1t may
mean that here. We hope not. We
want neither riot and blocdshed nor
political revolution. We want reform.
It is time for the people to demand re-
form not only to save expense, to re-
duce taxation, but to save the credit
and honor of the State. The people
have too long left public matters to
the politicians and their tools. Is there
not a Cineinnatus in the State who
will arise and command the people to
follow him to victories of reform? We
await his coming.
The TRANSCRIPT is not sensational
but believing that the period is critical
we do not hesitate to say as much. We
had supposed the Democrats had other
grounds for throwing out the votes in
certain hundreds in Kent county than
the mere act of revolution to maintain
power. They say the election was pur-
chased. So have they purchased cleo
tions for years and have prepared the
people for this very thing, have been
their tutors in crime. They say the
voters assistants should have been se-
Iected from the Republican and the
Democratic Parties as by agreement.
So they should throughout the State,
but In this county the Democrats
chose Union Republicans in large
number Of the districts, breaking their
agreement. The object was to beat
the Republicans here. 1t is right in
their eyes to violate contract when
they are to be benefited. 1t is crime
when another is the beneficiary. Ex-
Chancellor Wolcott, in his address be-
fore theCourt said:"If we did not come
here with authority sufficient to back
you up in doing just exactly what We
ask you to do, then I would say do as
you please and act in accordance with
the law, and in accordance with your
conscientious convictions of right"
So far as we know the only "backing
up'' the court gets is the plea for revo-
luton because of the very practices
Mr.. Wolcott has INDUCED in for
years.
The greatest surprise, however, is
the attitude Of the "Delawarean." Its
editor isa conservative man and as
member of the Constitutional Conven-
tion was one of the first Democrats to
urge compromise, dividing the dele
cation in Kent county. He admits
the revolutionary acts but by circum-
locution arrives at the opinion that"th
Democrats have the moral right TO the
offices in controversy" This is said
with apparent esrnestness though the
writer knows that no charge is brought
against the Addicksites Of which his
party is not alike guilty. At this time
it may be question merely of degree
in guilt. He reasons thus:
ssKeut county, because of the law
less acts of the Union Republican
party, is in Il state bordering on revo-
: luton. We do not believe a board Of
canvass in this State is authorized by
law to throw out election returns when
duly certified according to law. The
throwing out of the returns from GER
tain districts by the board of canvass
may also be revolution. We are quite |
ready to concede that one wrong does |
not justify another wrong and that |
two wrongs never make right. But
revolution is not always wrong. Some |
times it is absolutely necessary and |
therefore justifiable. - The |
members of the board of canvass re-
fused to certify to the election Of the |
candidates of the Union Republican
party, when as fact of public no.
toriety their apparent plurality was OBJ
tanned by lawlessness and revolution. |
The board went a step further, perhaps |
than the law authorizes. 1t threw out |
the returns from some of the districts |
where lawlessness was rampant and |
counted some districts; the results |
then showed an apparent plurality for |
the candidates Of the Democratic |
party, and the board certified to the |
election Of the Democratic candid
ates."
And now there are those who will
accuse the TRANSCRIPT Of inconsis-
tency. Our accusers are chiefly Of two
classes: Such Addicksites as are with
him, right or wrong, because he has the
Doodle, and such Democrats as care
onl, for the success of their party,
right or wrong. There may be third
class-those who are trifie obtuse.
The TRANSCRIPT is not inconsistent.
1t may be true that ga desperate di-
s.ase demands desperate remedy"
but the remedy must not be worse than