Smyrna times., 1896-10-21
The Game of Disfranchisemement as
Played in a Double Role.

Played in a Double Role.
Saturday gave us the melo-drama of
politics, Monday the comedy, and the
usual denouement in the final repre-
sentation in stirring scenes-the tragic,
let us hope, has been averted. The
rights of an American is always a seri-
GUS thing, and should never be trihed
with. Two years ago it was, success
fully, and thus county in the main,
changed by the disfranchisement, in
volving in the subsequent death of the
Governor, the loss of the State to the
winning party.
1t is unnecessary to go over again
what is fresh in most every mind, the
effort of the Democratic leaders to
strike off the the names of several hun
dred voters, succeeding with between
one and two hundred-enough to
change the vote of the cOunty-and
the action of weak or corrupt court
in shifting the authority to the Board
of Registration, claiming they had no
jurisdiction, &c. The reliance of those
who had looked to the Court-the dis
pensers of justice-for protection in
their inalienable rights, proved utterly
unavailing, for the court if not parti-
san, was nothing-it turned deaf ear
to the appeal of the helpless.
On the strict ground of moral and
political right it was without defence,
though acquiesced in without convic-
tiOn because in its train came the
emOluments. Most people thought it
too mOnstrOus to be repeated again.
but simple, easy, cOnfding souls are
forced to learn against their wills that
they 'are left" when brought in con-
tact with the devious ways of politi-
clans. 1t had worked too we'll before.
and the pliability of the court was
fully counted on to make an opportu-
nifty sure again.
30 the same game was tried on Sat
urday. The registration had been con-
Quoted fairly, so gentle and kind in
deed as to make the Republicans think
that possibly something would yet be
sprung on them. And, but for a vigi-
liant eye and apprehensive thought
they would have been caught ''nap-
ping" About the middle of the after
noon though there were prOtestations
to the contrary; certain movements
intensified the belief that the game of
two years ago of swearing off number
OF voters was to be repeated, and word
was telephOned to Dover to be ready
to checkmake it. Sure enough shortly
before closing, Robert Y. Wallen and
Nathaniel S. Pratt for the Western
District swOre that % names were not
legal voters, and Charles Jones went
through the same role in the Eastern
District against 43 men. The fact was
Immediately telephOned to Dover and
l4l names were proceeded against
there in the same manner, as lust
offset. The lower part of the county.
1t seems, looked upon it as "rascalitv. u
and did not enter into it.
This swearing Acknowledgement ac.
cordlng to the figures, embraced the
following: Duck Greek, Eastern Dis
trlct, 43; Western District, 2j, total,
6S; KentOn, 35; Little Greek, 2S:
West Dover, 2; making total of 13s
Republicans stricken off; and East
Dover, 141 Democrats. The names in
Dover differed from Smyrna in that a
number of the leading citizens and
politicians were included. The shoe
plnched where it was not expected, and
gave them to understand the feelings
OF their poorer fellow mortals of Ken
ton, Little Greek and Duck Greek
Hundreds.
Several of these men proceeded at
once against the Republican leaders
as conspiratOrs against their right OF
franchise and had them held in 81. .OOC
IN each case before Squire Cooper.
Under the assurance that the latter
would hold the oath makers of Smvrnf
under similar bonds for perjury, tel
men went down Monday morning. but
before the parties proceeded against
could be got there date in the after.
noon) proposition had been made by
the Democratic leaders to arrest the
proceedings at Acknowledgement right
there, which was readily agreed to BY
the Republicans-the plan being tC
have the respective Registration
Boards revoke or arrest the work Of
disfranchisement - the action in the
Smyrna cases not being contested by
the lawyers, and after a brief hearing
the magistrate dismissing the case with
mo cause for action"
This is happy ending if carried out
In good faith, and we presume it will,
be. The notice to the Individual mem
bers sworn against to appear Saturday
before the Board to show cause, &c,
must be served by to-day to be legal.
Should they be served, then the Reg
istrars will be arrested. The nerve
shown to head off this repetition al
disfranchisement has been surprising
and revelation in its determination
The Republican leaders say they dc
not wish to prevent any man from q
legal right to cast ballot, but thew
mean to insist to the end that ''if YOU
kill my dog 1 will kill your cat.
Thoughtful men of all parties must
feel better that fair play, the delight
of the true American, is to take the
place of fraud and possible violence.
DIR. Marshall, chairman of the Kent
County Republican Executive Com
mittee went to Chief Justice Lore in
court Monday, and laid the situation
before him. The judge said the Con
stitution was very plain on the right OF
casting a ballot. 1t provides that INV
man who has paid tax within two
years that had been assessed to him at
least six months previous, had a right
to vote. He said the court would look
into it, and was understood to say
they would voice their sentiments to
this effect.
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