Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-03
MANIFESTO 4aa,ssrrussElI.


The Action of the Democratic state Con-
sention Connemned by AN Alleged Demo-
| cratic AIeeting.
AT meeting hold Thursday night Id
tho Seventh ward wigwam, at Della
| ware avenue and Scott street, the fol.
lowing manifesto, signed by james Nc
xey, as chairman, and Edward J Nc
ElWee, az secretary, was adopted:
| we, the undersigned Democrats Of
Delaware, avow our fidelity to the
doctrines of true Democracy
Democracy OF Jefferson and jackson.
| We declare our unfaltoring devotion
to the government Of the United States
and the State of Delaware, and pro-
| claim our answering attachment to
the constitutions and tho laws of
both.
| We believe that in government of
freedmen by freemen and for freemen,
the preservation Of an absolute equality
OF opportunity for every freeman. what
ever his religion. his race or his con
| dition. is essential to the perpetuity of
liberty, and We endorse with enthu-
siasm the imperishable truths of our
Declaration OF Independence, "That
all men are created equal. and that
| among their inalienable rights are life,
liberty and the pursuits OF happiness. ;"
| We applaud the fathers of the re-
| public who, supplying us with the
| tiod-given CONSTITUTION of our country,
| and foreseeing the marvellous growth
OF our people and the diversity Of their
relIgious convictions, provided that
Congress shall make no law respect
| ing an establishment of religion, or
| prohibiting the free exercise thereof. !"
We believe in the sacred rights of
religious liberty, reserved to the people
by the Constitution of the State Of
Delaware, and hold that under our
form OF government no citizen should
suffer political disadvantage for being
Catholic Or Protestant, Jew or GENTLE
Christian or Pagan.
We remind our fellow citizens Of any
faith, or no faith, that vigilance is the
safeguard of liberty, and we call upon
them to give an active. living force to
the guaranty of the Delaware Consti-
tuition that mo religious test shall be
required as qualification to any
office, or public trust, under this
State"
We recognize and deplors the exist
ence of religious prejudice among in
dividuals, though we ardenty desire
the reign Of religious peace. While it
is true that individuals, often other
wise blameless. cherish hostility to
religions other than their own, de-
nounce the adoption of this narrow
bigotry by a great political party as
violative of the most sacred rights of
freemen, hostile to tho Constitution of
the republic, and insulting TO the
honorable character of American man
hood.
We condemn the action of the Demo-
cratic State convention held at Dover
on Tuesday, the 18th day of August,
A. D. 1896, in adopting the un.
patriotic suggestions of a rot of
political schemers. Knowing that
they would find in Peter j. Ford
man unbending in his fidelity to the
highest principles of political honesty,
this cabal of intriguers bent every
effort to have nominated for the office
of Governor of the State of Delaware a
weak and plant man to be tool in
their skilful hands. To secure their
prize they stopped at no trickery and
knavery. They dragged in the spectre
OF religious intolerance and bigotry
and boldly proclaimed that the voters
of Kent and Sussex would not support
candidate for Governor who was
Roman Catholic. Despite the over
whelming endorsement OF New Castle
county given to Peter j. Ford after an
open, straightforward and manly APP
peal to the people, an endorsement won
by the appreciation of an honest people
for the irreproachable and stainless
public and private life of the man
whom they honored- precedent and
party usage were disregarded, the
friends of Ford openly inaulted, the
domination snatched from the grasp of
Roman Catholic, condemned as such,
and rendered to man who, though
protesting early and often that he was
not in the race, seems ready and
anxious TO play the role of "Wilin'
Barkis. "a
We love our religion and the repub-
lie. We will continue to practice the
one, and to serve the other. We ask
for the nomination of no man because
of his religion. We believe that no
mans religion should he the cause of
his political preferment. But with
equal reason we demand that no can
didate for office shall be rejected be-
cause of his religion. Religion shall
not work political ostracism in the re-
public. We believe the best service
We cdn reDuer our DtaCe IL 10 Olor
stern and unceasing opposition to un-
American and unconstitutional methods
in political life. Fundamental princi.
pies of government are paramount over
party ties. We repuoliate the betrayal
of sacred rights by the Dover conven.
tion. We denounce it's departure from
established party custom, and we hold
thatevery Democrat will render a true
service TO liberty and freedom by CON
demning at the polls the treachery,
intolerance and bigotry of the Dover
convention.
John McVey, who presided at the
meeting, is authority for the state
ment that about 81 persons were
present. A number of Democrats re-
siding in the ward who were spoken to
Friday morning, stated that they knew
nothing of the meeting.
Peter j. Ford stated on Friday to
reporter of The Gazette that he
knew nothing of the meeting until he
read of it in the paper Friday, and
beyond the report in the papers he
had no information concerning it.
Vessel Given Up for Lost.
Gheqfartown Md Au0 96 Tba