Evening journal., 1897-09-20
|. |. HANDY SPEAKS.
Delaware's Silver Congressman
on the Political Outlook.
THE SITUATION IS REVIEWED


REPUBLICANS AND HARMONY.
THE INTERESTING QUESTION
FOR DEMOCRATS OF della
wARE-DEI1AWARE DEMOCRATS
MUST STAND TOGETHER FOR
FREE SILVER.
Milford. Sept 1S.-The Herald of Sat-
urday gives the views of Representative |
Levin Irving Handy who. in an open |
letter, discusses questions OF party pol |
icy, as follows
An open effort is being made to har
monize and unite the Republican party
and the Union Republican party. The
overtures for harmony come from the
Union Republican party. which is Mr.
Addicks' private property. Mr. Addicks'
unwarranted ambition to be United
States senator, his foul political meth
ods, and his policy of "Addicks or no
body" are the original and continuing
causes Of the division; and it is there
fore natural to suspect that the present
suggestion of harmony by the Union
Republicans is part of Mr. Addicks
strategy. and is intended not so much
TO make peace with the regular Repub-
licans as to disturb and unsettle their
control OF patronage under President
Mckinley.
But this. after all, is mere suspicion
and il will be wiser and safer for the
Democrats of Delaware to act upon the
supposition that they will have TO meet
a reunited Republican party next year.
There are three ways bywhich harmony
may be restored among Delaware Re
publicans: First, by Mr. Addicks giving
up pursuit OF the senatorship and retir-
ing from politics; second. by the Union
Republicans throwing Mr.. Addicks
overheard, willy nilly, as Jonah; and
third, by the regular Republicans
throwing conscience overheard and let
ting Mr.. Addicks seize his coveted
quarry. Although none of the three
seems probable at present, it Is OF
course within range of possibility that
any OF them may come TO pass.
The interesting question for the
Democrats of Delaware is: How shall
we prepare to meet the Republicans il
they are united in 1898, and where shall
the line of battle be drawn?" There IS
no irsupeTable difficulty in the situa-
tion the Democrats will have to face. II
they are WISE they can carry Delaware
next year no matter what may be the
outcome Of the conferences of the Re
publican committees on harmony.
The Democrats must, In the frs
place. go into the next campaign ac'
cepting and uphOlding in good faith the
provisions in the new Constitution
against bribery at elections and kindred
evils. The use Of money at elections In
our state is not a new thing. Always
shameful, It had grown into mos
dangerous and threatening evil. Al
political parties had been more or les;
guilty and therein lay the chief dihi
Guilty in stopping the thing. The new
Constitution, however. furnishes new
and adequate means Of stamping on
bribery, and gives ms a new start VIII
old scores wiped out Even apart iron
patriotic considerations 1t is TO the al
vantage of the Democrats to put an en'
TO the use Of money at the polls, TO
they cannot hope to measure pocket
books with millionaires like Mr.. Ad
dicks But the Democrats, in order &
use effectively the weapons put in thei
hands by the new Constitution, mus
keen those hands absolutely clean.
will be their policy, therefore bravel
and in good faith, to take the position
that the Democratic party will not un
der the new Constitution spend singl
dollar for bribery nor Will II permi
Ffsts g
any other party to bribe voters. Thi
is the way for Democrats to act as wei
as to talk. The first election under tn
new Constitution is our one opportun
ity to put stop to vote buying. 1t
a case of now or never and 1t Is mat
ter vital to party success.
Turning from a question of metho
to the question of party principles,
seems plain that the Democrats of Della
ware must stand shoulder to shOulde
with their Democratic brethren in othe
states. This means that they mus
stand for free silver and against tn
Dingley tariff act In fighting agains
the exactions of the Dingley tarim the
are fighting for equal rights and ever
handed justice between man and ma
under the law Can the Democrat
party give up that fight? In fightin
against the single gold standard the
are fighting for the prosperity CT th
masses of the people. Can the Dem'
cratic party give up such fight Z
that? We need not take our position
harshness of speech or bitterness
spirit towards anyone. We desire
this state the support of every man Wi
calls himself a Democrat, but the log
OF events and the force Of the situate
will compel Delaware Democrats to star
for free silver and for less tariff tax
ton; for that is what the overwhelmir
majority OF the party in the state b
lieve in, and that is what the par
throughout the nation believes in al
will stand to.
The support which was given NJ
Bryan last Fall was absolutely SINGER
The men who supported him think Il
same way still. and their ranks ha'
been reinforced by hundreds of Othe
who have observed events since q
election. Mr.. Bryan was defeated b
the forces supporting him were not di
mayed, and they did not falter.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, the natio
al chairman, recently declared,
Bryan is already to all intents and pu
poses renominated for 1900. In tn
year we believe he will be triumphant
elected. The Democrats of Delawa
wish to bear their part and have Tho
share in that victory The currents
popular sentiment which are observai
in other states are also running in ou