New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
MR.. DUPONTS REJECTION.

Delaware at last has been definitely deprived
of her rightful voice in National legislation
The dog-in-the-maneer conspiracy Of disgrunted
Republican factionistS, Democrats and POpu-
lists. which has long been working 10 keep Colo
mel Dupont out Of his seat, has finally accom-
plished its object The decision was not based
on any convictions as TO the business Of his
claim. If arguments of that kind could have
had any weight Colonel Dupont must have been
seated. He obtained majority Of the rightful
votes cast in the Della aware Legislature 1t was
violation of the spirit Of every American con
stitution. departure from all precedent,
us,lrpation unheard Of in Delaware, and directly
contrary to the examples Of former Governors
and Of the letter OF the Constitution, for Gov
ernor Watson to exercise both executive and
legislative functions at the same time. The
Delaware Constitution provides that in case OF
vacancy the Speaker Of the Senate shall exer-
else the office" of Governor, and also that no
person "holding any office under the United
States or this State shall exercise the office OF
Governor" Again, 1t says that no person
holding any Office in the State, with certain
specified exceptions, including the Attorney
General shall during his continuance in such
office be Senator or Representative. Yet In
the face of these prohibitions Mr.. Watson forced
his way into the Joint Assembly, grasped the
presidents gavel and proceeded to act as Sen
ator on the last day Of the session, after having
for weeks made no claim to a seat From the
death of Governor Marvil he had retired from
the Senate, as all his predecessors similarly cir
cumstanced had done, and 1t was only under
the urging Of the Addcks obstructonists in des-
peratOn at their failure to force deadlock, that
he finally consented to become a revOlutOnist.
Then resuming his executive office, he prevent
ed Mr.. Dupont from obtaining credentials tech
ncally perfect and paved the way for a con-
test in the United States Senate.
| AS was to be expected in such n contest, the
Democratic Senators were unanimously against
Mr. Dupont All their professions of fairness
went for naught. With great assumption OF
virtue the Democrats and Mugwumps reproached
the Republicans for letting such man as Adj
dicks buy his way to prominence. Then when
the Republicans rose up to prevent the disgrace
these same Democrats Joined with Addicks to
help him fasten himself upon the party and
have ever since worked In harmony with him.
Like Democrats in New-YOrk, they are much
scandazed over the evils OF Republican boss
rule, but they never fail to help the boss when
they can. The Popust opposition to Mr.. Du-
pont was equally unreasoning and unjustifable
but IL was luh! i'll accoiu WIN o'e ic'osh~'"
policy of these political bandits, who have been
"holding up" legislation for price. They did
not vote against seating Mr. Dupont because
they doubted his election, but because OF their
petty spite against the Republicans for not sur
rendering all their convictions to handful Of
Socialist and silver strikers. They struck for
silver legislation. and because they could not
get 1t have stood in the way Of the Republican
measures to benefit the country. Now, with
mingled desire for revenge, and fear that by let
ting in new Senator they may lose their power
Of obstruction, they perpetrate this most bare
faced outrage on the people OF Delaware
The third party to this conspiracy Is j. Edward
Addicks. OF the three he Is most to blame
though his spitefulness would have been OF no
effect but for the help of the other two Ad-
dicks u . political adventurer. whose money