Middletown transcript., 1896-05-16
MIDDLETowN, DEL, MAY. 1s, 1896
DARE TO DO RIGHT.

MIDDLETOWN, DEL, MAY. 16, 1885,
DARE TO DO RIGHT.
At no time have the Republicans 01
Delaware been face to face with gravel
and more serious questions than they
face to-day. The political situation
appeal to the citizen as well as to the
party man. On Saturday last Mr.. J.
Edward Addicks carried a majority Of
the primaries in the State, 'sboodle''
winning in many places over manhood.
He made good his boast that he would
control the State convention and he
controlled it in manner and with an
authority that made many of his fol-
lowers vince. He rode rough-shod over
all party precedents, time-honored Gus
toms, and the rights of minority. He
unwittingly named his followers the
"Addicks Party" and following the
example of James L. Walcott who in
1888 purchased the Democratic pri-
maries in Kent county, he applied the
unit rule and had himself elected to St.
Louis as delegate in this, the second
district, over Hon. John Pilling though
twenty-six of the thirty-eight delegates
elected to the Convention from the dis
trict, chose Mr.. Pilling. As his alter
nate he elected Bob Handy. the man
who refused to abide by Republican
caucus in the election of a U. S.
Senator, the man who conspired with
Democrats to prevent an election and
then made affidavits to support that
conspiracy in the u. S. Senate, over
Gen. James H. Wilson, brave soldier,
a fine scholar and patriotic. statesman,
Gen. Wilson being the choice of over
two-thirds of the delegates of the dis
trict in the caucus. Mr.. Addicks did
all this when it was not necessary to
have given him complete control of the
majority of the delegation to st. Louis,
and he could have enjoyed his purchased
victory with some show Of magnani-
nifty, of fairness if he had wished, and
have lost nothing. But instead of that
he showed his complete indifference to
the rights of minority, as he had done
year ago towards the rights Of
majority he had contempt for county
rights and party customs, and. some of
the most foolish of his followers boast
that he can buy two Democrats for
every Republican who refuses to wear
his collar. This is the man who has the
Republican Party of Delaware by the
throat. The majority of the New Castle
county delegation believing that large
majority of the Republicans of the
county are unalterably opposed to the
control of the primaries by ''boodle,"
that they will submit to the purchased
domination of no man, after making
protest after protest against the viola
ton Of all.party precedents, and being
subjected all day up to 5 o'clock to the
hootings and howlings of free-train
mob, dared to do what they believed
was the right, nay was their duty to the
best interests of the Republican Party
they withdrew from the hall and re-
paired to the State House, where they
adopted appropriate resolutions and
named a deleg alton to st. Louis to
represent them in the National Conven-
tion. They took this step believing
the future of the Republican Party
demanded it.
With the New Castle delegation
Withdrawing there were twelve dele
gates from Sussex who said that they
represent twelve hundred staunch and
true Republicans in that county who
can never wear the Addicks yoke.
There were in Dover on Tuesday many
of the most prominent Republicans of
Kent county who declared that there is
a very strong anti-Addicks sentiment
in that county, condemning the course
of Mr.. Addicks from first to last.
Their organization surrendered to him, |
however, and it appeared useless to OPP
pose, though silence does not mean
acceptance. This is their attitude and
while they protest against Addickism
they cannot accept the Democracy
which has trampeled on their rights so |
long. What can conscientious Repub-
licans do? What is their dutyP Every |
man should stop and consider, and as
he gets the light to see the right he |
should dare to do it.
The thinking Democrats of the
State to-day are as serious over the
political situation as are the Republic
cans. The Democratic politicians who |
have thus far aided Mr.. Addicks in his |
every effort and the Democratic papers
which have given him sympathy on
every possible occasion have looked |
only to party advantage, but the pa
triotic Democrat looks with great fear
upon the possibility of one mans ruling |
this State as he ruled the Court House |
Convention last Tuesday. And well he
may. The most important election in |
the historyof this State is to bs held
on the Sd day of November next. The
Democratic politicians in Kent and
Sussex counties have relied for a
quarter Of a century upon the prejudice
against the colored man, the assessment |
and tax collection laws. and lr.bery at
the polls to win their victories. This
is NOT said as partisan but ss eiti-