Milford chronicle., 1896-04-03

the Evening journal and it is such
a sensible editorial from a Demo
Democratic paper that we reproduce
it in full. There are some things
said that are not just the thing, but
as a whole it is sensible, timely and
honest. The editorial follows
Stand Up and Fight; DON'T Hide.
Political history has demonstrated
that party which, for the sake OF
obtaining a temporary advantage,
resorts to dishonesty, short cuts and
evasions, and places itself on the de-
fensive before the public, loses much
more thereby THAI it would were 1t
to pursue straight forward, honest
course along the lines which natur-
ally radiate from the great principles
of polity which underlie its Organi-
cation.
Parties are responsible for their
chosen agents at the bar of public
opinion just as individuals are re-
spOnsible for their agents in the or
binary legal tribunal, and the YER
dict hangs largely upon the conduct
of those agents, It is all very well
for a man to say that he votes for
principals and measures rather than
for men. but we must not lose sight
of the fact that it requires good men
to live up to good principles, and
create and enforce good measures.
We do not believe that the Dem
ocratic party will gain any lasting
advantage by the reported actions
OF the clerks Of the peace Of Kent
and Sussex counties. Indeed, is is
doubtful whether even q temporary
advantage will accrue to the party
as a result of their actions. They
have placed the party in position
where it can neither justify its agents
or itself. They have succeeded III
keeping a handful of Republicans
from being assessed, and thereby de-
prived them OF the right of franchise
but, have they and their advisers
considered tbs consequences z
The public likes a manly just as
as it likes manly man and does not
give its moral support to a party
whose agents run and secrete them
selves, when they ought TO stand out
in the open, and defend the prlncl'
pies of that party which placed them
in position of trust and response.
bility.
We believe that the action Of the
two men referred to will cost the
party more votes than they imagine
and that, in the long run, the Repub-
Leans will reap the benefit of an ILL
advised scheme to help the DEMO
Gratis.
Our party has control OF the Levy
Courts III all three counties, TO-
gether with the election machinery
which goes with them, Such a
power should have been sufficient
to protect the party interests in a
proper manner without having to
resort to means for which the party
must stand before the public in a
position of humble apology and with
no reasonable excuse to offer.
Last election we hadthe East Dover
hundred tax collector escaped. Did
we gain any lasting adyantageY Not
a particle. 1t WAS one OF the best
campaign documents put out by the
Republican managers, and made
votes all over the state. Now we
have the Kent and Sussex county
managers playing more trump cards
into the hands of their opponents,
and furnishing them with meterial
for the framing of an indictment to
which the party all over the state
must plead guilty.
We do not mean to say that the
men who were left OF the books
should have been put on. We know
nothing of their age or residence,
or of the vouchers that they pro-
duced in support of their claims of
citizenship, but we do say that the
action of the clerks of the peace ia
absenting themselves from their
posts of duty will do more to con-
vince the public that the men were
entitled to be put on the books than
column after column of Republican
argument to like effect.
Republicans of Delaware are des-
perate, we know, and have been for
several years, It is incumbent upon
the Democrats who control the var
ious branches Of state and county
government, to keep them within
the bounds Of decency and good
order, but in doing so our party
does not require its agents to sink
and it to the Republican
level of politics.