Evening journal., 1896-04-28
Norsmbsr,. aoldsn Promlssa.

which are In sympathy with the politi
cal policy Of ex Senator Anthony Higgins
snd his friends, and those which are
under the control aud censorship Of J.
Edward Addioks and bis snterprising
and industrious co.lAborers In the polIti-
cal 6sld.
The Higgins organs are defiant In
manner and cftimes intenperste in
expressions concerning men and mea-
sures, They are either badly frightened
by the partisan outlook, or else from 3
partisan standpoint. badly edited. II
frightened. they are foolish to show It /:
II confident. their feelings Of confidence
are poorly expressed.
Personal abuse, threats Of boiling.
tearing open old sores and adding fuel to
fractional fires already burning too
brightly for the good OF the party, are
not signs OF good leadership upon the
part OF men who feel confident OF their
position before the party. These are
usually, but not always, he weapons of
men who have been driven to extrsmIties.
Sometimes they are merely Indicative Of
poor Judgment on the part OF men who
have every reason to believe that their
plans ensure a victory SO complete that
they can afford to heap abuse upon their
foes, even before the decisive battle has
been fought
Which feeling 1t Is that sctuates those
who shape the editorial policy Of the
Higgins section OF the Republican press
we cannot pretend tn state with any
degree Of postiveness, but 1t is unlike
the ex senator and bis political managers
to threaten to bolt ticket unless they
are In mortal dread that they will not be
In position to name the men who will
figure upon 1t. This radical departure
from their usual policy indicates that
they anticipate defeat In Ksnt and
Sussex counties and are laying the
ground for bolt in November
On the other hand, those papers which
have allied themselves with Mr.. Addlcks
are pursuing a much more moderate
course As though already assured of
carrying both Kent aud Sussex counties
on May o, aud controlling the State Con-
vsntion on May ~, they are demanding
primaries, urging a strict observ-
ance OF party rules and usages, and
crying Justify for harmony, no matter
which way the tide Of battle goes
This radical departure from the cry OF
"Addicks or Mob ,dy" does not signify a
change Of heart on the part Of the
Addlcks following, but a real or I'm
Aginary change Of position with respect
to It's standing within the party From
minority two years ago Mr. Addicks
and his adherents have come to regard
themselves as a majority. They believe
that they have. in point Of numbers and
influence, resched place at which they
can, with advantage to themselves,
lower the standard of "Addicks or No.
body" and make demand upon tbs
Higgins faction for honesty ct the
primaries and harmony afterwards.
Having pursued a policy Of rule or
ruin against the Higgins faction when 1t
was in the msjorIty. the Addicks faction
naturally fears that, should 1t win the
party organization and machinery at the
May primaries, the Higgins men will
retaliate by giving them Roland for
their Oliver and defeAt the Addicks ticket
at the general election.
Thus we fud the faction which pre-
sumably fears defeat at the primaries
engaged In bluster and threats OF boiling
the ticket, and the faction which is
hopeful OF victory at the primaries,
prsyerful and badly frightened lest its
factional advantage should be wholly
lost at the general election by the de
feated faction paying it back In its own
rule or ruin coin.
To Democrat the situation Is wonder
fully amusing and laden with promise
To Republican It Is extremely exaspsr.
ting and prophetic OF disaster The
Higgins faction threatens to bolt the
party before it is defeated, and the Ad-
dicks faction is crying for hsrmosy
before It knows positively that IL will
not be defeated and for self preservation,
compelled to return again to its old
tactics OF ''Addicks or Nobody"
November holds out golden promises
to the Democracy of Delaware