Evening journal., 1896-02-04
mon ComIng Reward /.

'fN NNH" AANH -rANiI H|oNA ANA NhNN -"
publicans know no law whom the interests
OF their party are involved. From the
seat OF legislation In Washington 20 the
most obscure voting district 10 the most
remote state in tho Union this assertion
mods good. Political outrage follows
political outrage In rapid succession
while good citizens stand wondering
whom the climax Of Republican audaclly
ard lnwlessness will bs reached.
Spollation Of the masses for tho benefit
Of the classes; appeals to personal passion
and race and sectIonsl prejudice; playing
upon the credulity Of the ignorant and
pliable negro; intimidation and corrup
,ion Of tbs electorate i juggling with facts
and figures; prostitution of executive,
legislative and ldlclal powers these are
the stock in trade Of the Grand Old
Pretense which was swept iato power on
wave Of blood ami which is slowly but
surely working its own destruction.
The Republican members OF the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections
are worthy OF their party. Their action
in reporting In favor OF seating Colonel
Henry A DUPONT as Senator from
Delaware Is in keeping with theig pollu
cal creed that might Is right and the end
justi6es the means. Dslawareans are
not surprised at the verdict Chairman
Mitchell had rendered an untqnivocnl
decision In favor OF Colonel Dupont be-
fore he had even aupeif fclally studied
our constitution relative to the right Of
an acting governor 10 exercise legislative
funslions IN behalf Of constituents who
had elected him to represent them in the
General Assembly. dis Republican col
leagues on,the committees would doubt
less have done the Same had they been
appealed to by ex Senator higgins,
Edward Bradford and their co-laborers
in behalf OF Colonel Dupont The case
was prejudged, and the presentation Of
argument in support OF the Republican
contention was formality which might
have besn dispensed with.
Tue constitution OF the State OF Della
ware has been trampled under foot by the
Senate OF tho United States. at the
inatlgstion OF Delawareana who are such
in name only. Fealty TO party has led
to treason to our state aud It has been
struck a cowardly blow In the most vital
part OF It's political organism by men who
will doubtless take the stump this Fall
and ptate OF patriotism and the great
love they have for our little common
wealth.
Colonel Dupont may be ssatsd II
the sound money Republic aus are sue
cessiul In hoodwinklng the Popullsta
aud Silver men and indu " them to
vote for mono metalist, thero can be no
doubt as TO the result Of the action Of
the Senate upon the majority report OF
the Committee on Privileges and Flee
tions.
Ia this connection we have another
example Of Republican laWlessness aud
psrfdy On the hoor OF the highest lesi3
lAtlve body In our country . It - no more
a question OF legal ald constitutional
right than It was Ia the mnittee room
We do not hesr men say that ths scheme
may be frustrated by fair minded Rs
publicans who will vote with the Demo
Gratis. Not At al. The only suggestion
Is that politicN expsdlency may lead
the silver men and Popullsts to vote
against the seating OF man whose con
vlciions run counter to their own, and
whose qualification as member would
lessen TO certain degree their iniln.
encs In matters OF lesislation along esr-
tain lines.
In the unlawful scramble for partisan
ard isctioual advantage the real iseue
has been lost sight Of entirely. It Is no
longer question Of WAS he elec.edg
but one OF "Can we muster enough votes
TO seat himg' The legal merits OF the
contest are not considered, nor will they
be.
Governor Watson has the satisfaction
Of knowing that he did his duty All
fair'minded Delawareans will uphold
him Partisans may derlds aud sbuse
him. bus be will come out Without a
amlrch upon a legislative and executive
record which FOR its honesty aud manll
ness is its own best recommendation.
Delaware will not forget the men who
have betrayed her aud dragged her
constitution IN the mire OF partisan
politics November will bring to them
sitting reward ior their bsseness.