The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-28
sPURNED TUNNEL.
Seventh Ward Democrats Say He
Is Weak and Plant,
WILL NOT SUPPORT HIM.
The Dover Conventions Slur on the Chat
ole Religion VIII be Repudiated-Ne
Castle County Will Cut Him, Which
Means Republican Victory.

| Castle county VIII Cut HIN, winch
Means Republican Victory.
Eat a meeting Of the Seventh ward Dem.
ocrats held last evening in the wigwam
| Delaware avenue and Scott street. the
following manifesto was unanimously en-.
dorsed by those present. Copies will be
sent all through the state that the sigma
lures Of those who repudiate the Dover
Convention may be attached thereto. All
the Democrats present at the meeting af-
fixed their signatures. Other meetings
will be held in the near future.
James McVey. Chairman.
Edward ]. McElwee, Secretary"
I'VE, the undersigned Democrats Of
Delaware, avow our fidelity to the doc
trines Of true Democracy-the Democracy
of jefferson and Jackson.
I'VE declare our unfaltering devotion to
the government OF the United States and
the State Of Delaware, and proclaim our
answering attachment to the constitu-
tions and the laws of both.
I'VE believe that in government of
freemen by freemen and for freemen, the
preservation OF an absolute equality Of OPP
portunity for every freeman, whatever his
religion, his race or his condition, is es-
sential to the perpetuity of liberty and we
endorse with enthusiasm 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.
1--WE applaud the fathers of the republic
who, supplying us with the God-given Con-
stitution of our country, and foreseeng the
marvellous growth of our people and the
diversity of their religious convictions,
provided that Congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment of relig-
ion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof
I'VE believe in the sacred right OF relg-
ious liberty, reserved to the people by the
Constitution of the State OF Delaware, and
hold that under our form of government
10 citizen should suffer political disadvan-
tage for being Catholic or Protestant Jew
or Gentle, Christian or Pagan.
I'VE 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 Constitution
that no religious test shall be required as
qualification to any Office, or public trust,
under this state.
I'VE recognize and deplore the existence
of religious prejudice among individuals,
though we ardently desire the reign Of re-
ligious peace. While it is true that indi-
viduals, often otherwise blameless, cherish
hostility to religions other than their own,
we denounce the adoption Of this narrow
bigotry by a great political party as vio-
lative of the most sacred rights of freemen
hostile to the Constitution Of the republic
and insulting to the honorable character
of American manhood
I'VE 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 unpatriotic sugges-
tons of set OF political schemers. Know
Ing that they would find in Peter ]. Ford
man unbending in his fidelity to the high
est principles of political honesty, this
cabal OF intriguers bent every effort to
have nominated for the Office of governor
of the State of Delaware weak and plant
man to be tool in their skillfu hands.
To secure their prize they stopped at no
trickery and knavery. They dragged in the
spectre of religious intolerance and big
otry and boldly proclaimed that the voters
Of Kent and Sussex would not support a
candidate for governor who was Roman
Catholic. Despite the overwhelming en-
dorsement Of New Castle county given to
Peter J. Ford after an open, straightfor-
ward and manly appeal to the people, an
| endorsement won by the appreciation of
NJ hDunSt fn bn pbnI,I ND
stainless public and private life of the man
whom they honored-precedent and party
usage were dsregarded, the friends Of
! Ford openly insulted, the nomination
snatchcd 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 a
'Willn' Barkis
1--WE love orr religion and the republic.
! We will continue to practice the one, and
J to serve the other. We ask for the nom!na-
| ton of no man because of his religion. We
| believe that no mans religion should he
! the cause of his political preformcnt. But
/ with equal reason We demand that no can
/ ddate for office shall be rejected because Of
| his religion. Religion shall not work no
litical Gstracism in the republic We be-
| lieve the hest service we can render our
state is to offer stern and unccasing OPP
position to uE-Amcrican and unConstitu-
! tional methods in political life. Funda-
mental principles OF government are para
mount over party ties. We repudiate the
/ betrayal of sacred rights by the Dover con
venton. We denounce its departure from
established party custom, and we hold that
| every Democrat will render a true SER
| vice to liberty and freedom by condemnng
at the polls the treachery. Intolerance and
/ bigotry Of the Dover convention"