Evening journal., 1896-12-31
CONTEMPORARY OPINION.
IA DELAWARE ROss-

II Mr.. j. Edward Addicks. who has
gained considerable notOriety during
the last two or three years as a Re-
publican candidate for United States
senator from Delaware. Is correctly
reported in the Philadelphia Ledger
he certainly deserves the credit that
belongs TO absolute frankness. lt may
be said, indeed, that from the begin
ming OF his campaign for that high
office he has disclosed his methods.
as well as his plans and purposes, with
the most cynical candOr He did not
pretend to offer any argument for his
own election by the Republican
Legislature of 1894 except that he had
furnished the money by which a Re-
publican majority was secured. Solely
on that ground he demanded the SEN
atorship from the Republicans. who.
he said, owed their election to the
Legislature to his liberal contribu-
tiOns IL is safe to say that his omen
avowal was without precedent in our
political history. Not that this was
the first instance in which ambitious
men of wealth had contributed largely
TO election expenses in the expectation
OF political promotion. nor the first in
which such contributions were the
sole consideration in weighing a can
dates claims. That men have sat i'm
the United States Senate of whom II
could be said, with hardly the fear of
contradiction, that they had bought
their seats s,unfortunately too tine
But this was, we believe. the first in
stance in which the candidate him
self unblushingly set up his claim for
united States Senatorship upon the
ground that he had bought and
owned the Legislature empowered to
elect. Mr. Addicks was not only bl1l-
tally frank, he was aggressive and per-
sistent. His persistency. which be-
came a national scandal. prevented an
election. and left vacancy i'm the
states representation in the Senate
which the Legislature elected last
month is expected to fiji at the coming
session. That Legislature contains "A
majority of Democrats.
But Mr. Addicks is reported as say
ing that he will prevent the election
OF a Democrat or anybody else except
himself Il don't care about the pass
ing OF laws, he says; "all / want is
tne senatorship, and 1 shall be elected
ii the Democrats who have certificates
OF election, and consequently control OF
the Legislature, do not seat Republi-
can contestants enough to change the
complexion Of the majority, he pro-
poses 10 organize separate Re
publican Legislature. which will meet
ana elect him senator. He says he has
assurance that the United States SEN
ate VIII not seat any Democrat who is
erected this Winter. 81 am willing % he
continues, to pay all the expenses of
tt.f
the United States Senate / will fight
everything TO the bitter end. Unless l
am seated i'm the Senate there will be
another vacancy for two years. This
rs lrankness to the point of audacity
Nothing could be more plainly stated
There Is no concealment or avoidance
no beating about the bush. no pretence
OF party loyalty or devotion to prin-
ciple, no pretence even of a desire for
party success. UNLESS / am seated
there will be vacancy for two wears -
That sums up the situation. In plain
English, he has bought a seat i'm the
United States Senate of the Repubi-
cans of Delaware and demands the de-
livery of the goods If he doesn't get
the seat nobody else shall occupy il.
and the state will continue nartly un-
represented. Nothing like this was ever
known before.
That the Republican party of Della
ware is disgraced beyond measure by
such an exhibition of monumental au-
dacity, combined with trucking cow
ardice and base venality hardly need
be said. That Mr.. Addicks. with even
all his brutal candor, should make pub
lie such purpose and such a pro-
gram seems incredible That he should
succeed in it we cannot believe possi-
bic, Better the election of Willard
Salisbury OF any other Democrat. gold
or silver, or even Populist. than that
the United States Senate should be
contaminated by the presence of such
a man or the Republican party dis
gracod by such an association. A Re
publican majority in the Senate is inn
/ portant TO the success of the incoming
administration and the passage of laws
! necessary for the general welfare. but
not important enough to be purchased
at any such price. There is no emer-
gency and we may well doubt if there
could be one, to justify IT, No party
least OF all the Republican. which
/ prides itself upon the purity of its pur-
poses and the cleanness of its record
can afford 10 lend countenance to such
shameless indecency. From only one
point of view can the Delaware situa-
tion be looked upon by honest men
with the least degree of toleration As
an object-lessOn il may i'm the end
serve useful purpose. Il holds up to
the light in all its nakedness the logi-
cal outcome Of the system OF bossism