Middletown transcript., 1896-11-14

reforms that shall give us honest elec-
tions does not assert itself at the pres.
ent time then is the State to be pitied
indeed. These reforms will not come
unless the people demand them and the
public press should be unit in its
advocacy Of the right and in condem-
nation of the wrong. To be righteously
indignant over the outrages perpetra-
ted by the opposite party and silently
consenting to the crimes of ones own
party is hypocrisy, and the indignation
is wasted. The opportunity is present
for general condemna tion of political
wrongs and for revision of our meth
ods SO that honesty and fair dealing
shall have show in the future. Will
the newspapers of the State not arise
to their high privilege? The TRAM
SCRIPT has no desire to assume lone
position, nor to point out the inconsis-
-tencies of contemporaries, for it is a
thankless task, but to get justice the
editors Of. Delaware should unite for
the right. Let justice be tempered with
mercy for in politics as in life none are
fully clear in both act and desire.
The charges and counter charges of
fraud upon the ballot in every county
in this State have suggested these
thoughts. together with the sad fact
that Republican papers are violent in
their denunciation of the outrages
committed by Democrats but are silent
as to those Of their own party, and
with Democratic papers the reverse is
the case. Is is not time to7condemn the
wrong for the good of the State? Per-
haps toe week of the election was too
exciting to expect non-partisan state
ment and we shall have them in the
future. As sample of the editorial
bias We clip from two papers down the
State. Our Demoratic brother says:
considering the odds that were
against them in the shape of money
and riot and force, the Democracy Of
Delaware has cause to be proud Of the
signal victory gained last Tuesday.
The foot of Delaware was placed on
the neck of AGdicks and Addickism
in Delaware. The people decided that
they will have none Of that monster
who thinks he can deal in the franchise
of the people as in SO much Bay State
Gas stock.
Whether we belong to the class
known in politics as the victors or to
the vanquished, we are heartily glad
that the campaign of 1896 is a matter
Of history. Wherever there are those |
who are rejoicing under the laurels of |
victory, so must there of necessity be |
found those who are silent under the
willows of defeat. The campaign just |
closed has been the most exciting since
he days Of the late war. Delaware
las not escaped her share of the bur-
len of turmoil. Addickism in its
worst form reappeared at the polls last
Tuesday. Not only his money was
here but preconcerted violence in its
most malignant form of open and
,oasted riot. From the accounts from
he several voting places in Kent and
sussex we have every reason to believe
hat Addicks with bis money and des-
,erate lieutenants int ended carrying
he election in Kent and Sussex by
Methods unheard of in Delaware poll
ical history. Nearly every voting
lace in the two lower counties was be-
legged at the opening Of the polls by a
esperate, crazy, cursing mob who de-
handed that Addicks' voters assis-
ants shonld be appointed in opposition
o the appointments Of the election
and contrary to law. And
hey attempted to carry their demands
nto execution by mob violence. In
)agsboro hundred they succeeded in
reaking up the election. This was
he only place they were successful. In
they succeeded in having
free riot but failed to break up the |
lection as they intended. Such act
ms as the above should induce every
ecent man of whatever party to Join
democracy in the common cause of re-
.oring to the people the opport unity
free excl C Sc franchise. Addick-
no can no longer be tolerated in any 5
'rm. 1t must he put down and driv- /
q out, or our elections will remain a
Irce and disgrace to the State. Last :
uesday's election was not an express
on OF the people in any sense of the
rm. 1t was simply the expression
Violence and corruption. It is I
loWn that in Sussex alone that Ad- s
cks furnished SAC, 900 with which 10 s
rrupt the voters and it is a positive q
ct that he spent S100, 900 in the whole s
ate. A shame and reflection upon 9
IL manhood.,''
We may be preiudiced but it appea rs v
US that the following from a Union y
epublican editor is less reasonable p
ough the counting out of Kent =
unity is the greater crime with which :
"Higgins follower" had anything to :
}: n
F" Never before in the hiitoryof Dsla "
are has such lawlessness prevailed "
such crimes against the franchise of d
9publicans been attempted, as took a
ace at Dover and Wilmington last ii
thursday. The plans of Higgins and !
$ followers were carried out to the :
ter by their Democratic allies-and =
no, flushed with the fever of their z
archistic deeds lost all remembrance o
the tools who aided them to victory
d trampled down law without even
ing authority of giving reasons. On
Q flimsy pretext of fraud not even cc
cked by a single proof and against IL
9 argument of such eminent counsel m
Henry Ridgeley, the canvassing "
ard Of Kent county refused to canvas n
tabulate even one Republican hun :.
ed of that county-thereby changing -
Republican majority of 4S0 to a a.
emocratic majority of 19S. ia
FTshnc xUtfh ha osH 1f l. 1 t1