Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-02-27
WILMINGTON THURSDAY, FEE. 81.


that shall be absolutely bipartisan,
continues to incite editorial discussion
by the press of the State. The Milford
Herald has this suggestion to offer;
Let each party name ticket in each
county, to be composed Of five of it's
own members, four of the members Of
the opposite party, and one who has no
pronounced or known utilization with
either party, whose age, experience
and known character for honesty, in
tegrity and upright dealing will recon-
mend him at once to every honest
voter, and il there are Just three such
in the convention, these three would
hold the balance Of power and thwart
any partisan legislation which might
be attempted by the wire pullers of
either party. A deadlock would thus
be averted, and the two parties would
have representation of 10 and IL re-
spectively, even in the event of either
party carrying every county; or if
party should be successful in two
counties, this representation would be
IA and ID respectively. with the balance
of power vested 10 the three Just men
and true who should be selected for
their especial fitness in the premises.
Indeed, il every delegate selected could,
or would, divest themselves of all party
affiliations, the outcome of their work
would be assured.
True 1t is, that il all the delegates
would divest themselves entirely Of
their political feelings, the question
would be settled, but we all know that
they would not in fact, could not.
The Herald's suggestion for obviating
the difficulty, however, would be most
admirable, but for the impossibility of
securing the three men of the proper
mould with whom to entrust the
balance of power. Who can name
three men who would not, at some
time or other, vote in accordance with
their party affiliations? And how
would provision of the new Consti.
tuition adopted by partisan vote of lG
to IA be accepted by the people?
The only certain way to prevent the
Incorporation of any provisions into
the Constitution by partisan vote, is
to make it non-partisan body by
dividing the members equally between
the two political parties. How to
arrive at this conclusion is the ques-
ton. The Sussex Republican, which
has already placed itself on record as
favoring the equal division of the con-
vention, suggests the following:
A majority OF each party NAV in
truth favor a nom partisan convention.
but, as was suggested by prominent
Democratic leader if the effort 10
bring it about is put off until the heat
OF the campaign is upon us it would
be almost impossible to agree upon apy
course acceptable to both parties. Ii
such is the case it behooves all persons
OF whatever party, desiring or favoring
such a convention, 10 be up and doing.
Our respective county committees
most certainly represent the extremes
OF partisan feeling, yet perhaps there
exists In these same bodies feeling
OF respect, perhaps fear, for each
other that shows itself in an express.
sion Of good fellowship, that leads one
TO think that they may not be SO far
apart after all.
Inc same, Of course, applies to the
heads of the State organization. Can
they be brought together to consider
TINS momentous matter of equal repre-
sentation in the coming constitutional
Convention? Is the feeling now exist
ing in favor of ii, of sufficient influence
to compel the heads of the two party
organizations to recognize it and take
the single step that seems only needed
TO put us on the road to successful ter
mination? We believe any agreement
reached by the respective State com
'hittees, would be adopted by the con
ventiOn.
Certainly the politicians of the State
could afford to keep partisan hands off
the Constitutional Convention. 1t will
have little patronage to bestow. There
viii be nothing about its work to con
corn one political party more than the
other. 1t will have but the interests
Of the whole people to consider. And
most assuredly, should it be partisan
body, all the advantage that partisan
ingenuity could devise would be in.
corporated in the Constitution for the
benefit OF the majority party, while
the minority party would be the
sufferer.
1t seems to us that the leaders Of
both parties should willingly accept
the idea OF a non partisan convention.
and arrange for it. Tho leaders can
go this. An agreement for each party
to nominate but five candidates in each
county and place tho ten names thus
selected upon the official ballot, would
secure the desired end. The purelv
political interests OF all parties would
be safe with convention 30 consti.
tated. Will the political leaders do
this?
The only road to safety, . saws The
baltimore Sun, in commanding Scna.
Tor Smiths speech in favor of letting
the Monroe Doctrine alone and giving
the country a rest, is that suggested
by common sense No declaration by
Congress- whether By way Of re.
atlirmance or extension q the Monroe
Doctrine can add one jot or title ia
tho inalienable and Inherent ripht of
tho United States in any case 'en-
dahgering our peace or safety, to
rake such action as the nature Of the
case may require, even to tho extont.
y NECESSARY, Of waging war. No
omission to make public and super.
tuous procama tiun Of that ipberent
and inalienable right either AZ this NJ
any other time, can operate as a
waiver OF abridgment ot that right -
These are sound words, but unfor.
tnnately Congress does not seem in.
rIlned to riVa hnnn \. ...