Smyrna times., 1896-12-02

wholesale Acknowledgement two years
ago, whereby the county and State is
now in their poss ession, and the at
tempt to succeed by the same methods
this year and which failed only because
of the Republicans of Dover check
mating them at their own game.
To the charge thus rendered of
fraud Though three of the attorneys
engaged in the plot to throw out Re
publican districts were judges of re-
spective districts in Dover and pro-
nounced the election entirely fair and
signed the papers), was the charge
that there was no election in East
Duck Creek Hundred because the
Democrats chose a voters assistant
for the Republicans and would not
yield, when the latter believed the law
allowed them the choice, and that
West Dover Hundred had her returns
locked up in the ballot box, whereas
the law specified that the Inspector
should keep out one of the copies for
tabulating. It is believed that this
plan was premeditated so as to make a
claim that they had not fair returns, a
majority of the Inspectors with the
Coroner supplanting the Sheriff would
sign sufficient of the returns of the
precincts to give them majority vote
in the county, and rely on the Court
to help them out.
A common statute so plain as was
that in relation to electiors-the sim
pie duty of the Inspectors being to
tabulate the vote, giving the aggre-
gate majorities for the Governor to
issue the certificates was thought
plain enough by the usual layman to
only be laid before the Court, for them
to give prompt decision. Two weeks
have elapsed and multitude of coun-
sci has seemingly mystifed the Court.
Two days were occupied before
Thanksgiving and two days after, the
Court adjourning on Saturday even
ing, to meet tomorrow, Thursday, to
give their decision if there is no
amendment to the answer, the counsel
for the Inspectors being told that they
would have until that time to formu-
late amendments. Delay at every
point has been the purpose of the con-
testants, and tomorrow brings no
assurance of the final result.
The lawyers of the Republicans have
confined themselves to the merits of
the case-the law as to the duties of
the returning boards-while the law
yers of the Democrats dwelt on vio-
lence, vote buying, and, interposed
technicalities. Associate Justice Grubb
manifested a most ready ear for tech
nicalities. He caught at them with
the utmost eagerness, and when Law
yers Pennington, Kenney and others
on that side got tangled up, Judge
| Grubb would straighten them out with
'didn't they mean so and so," aud
they uniformly did, under his direct
ing hand. A 'technicality" was OF
far greater value than a plain law, il
it could be used as a fulcrum to hoist
out the men elected by the common
law. The people remember vividly
his connection with the Mandamus
case of two years ago-that crime
against the rights of citizenship.
His Associate, Cullen, sits mostly
quiet, but he is on record, having
said to the Returning Board al
Georgetown that their duty was min
isterial, not Judicial, having nothing
before them but to tabulate and sign
the returns. Chief Justice Lore means
right when left to his own opinion
but oh! the want of a backbone. The
people who remember the incision ant
decision of Judge Gilpin sigh for thu
time when it took only hours instead
of weeks to settle questions of plai1
law. 1t looks as if the Court wal
playing in the hands of political trick.
sters.
The question is, does it invite rev
olution? Are the principles of demo
cratic government to be set aside a
the behest of a few office seekers
That two wrongs dc not make a righ
is truism, but why in the use Of tn
same methods, is all the wrong OIL on
side and all the righteousness on tn
other?
The political methods of our Stat
are leading us into most dangerou
grounds. If things were reversed an,
the Democrats forced into the posi-
ton the Republicans are to-day an,
have been for some years, they woul,
never submit, and ought not. The,
would claim their rights at the risk @
life and blood, and anything less &C
corded to their opponents would b
un-American and unjust. Does tn
Court stand for justice or does it IN
tiate revolution?