Middletown transcript., 1897-09-25
MIDDLETowN, DEL. SEP. %, 1887.
nrpuBL1cAN uNIFIcATIoN.


q Dover. next Monday evening. IL -
u n hoped that they win make more
proeress than it appears they did MAKE
- the;r frat conference. The PROPOSE
t,on for harmony came from the Union
Ranublican committee and the confer
ence was apparently confined TO i!s Is
consideration. What proposition, II
any. the Republican conferrees viii Oh
far At the coming meeting, we 90 not
tnow but it is certain that the offer
~ the Unionists can not be accepted.
We doubt if its authors expected the
Republican couferrees to accept it. We
have not found q single Republican OF
either faction who approves OF II.
Every other man expresses surprise
that il should have been offered. 1t ap-
pears that the ordinary party man ex-
nected q reasonable offer, one that botn
sides could at least consider II not en-
tirely accept. The offer made is not de-
serving Of serious consideration.
The simple proposition OF Mr. Au-
dicks and his agents is that the Two
factions shall agree to hold a primary
election at an early date-in NoVem-
ber or December-to elect delegates 70
a State Convention. This convention
they propose shall be composed OF 1fo
delegates, Of whom Kent and sussex
counties shall be given so each and
New Castle county rs. The delegates
are to be distributed by legislative dis
tricts, giving s to each. As there are
only five such districts In the city OF
Wilmington the apportionment OF that
CITY is to consist of 25 delegates. The
Republican conferrees agreed unani-
mously, without leaving the room,
that such an apportionment could
never be accepted. Thereupon Dr.
George W. Marshall, Addicks's chair
man of his Kent county committee,
moved to adjourn until Monday, Sep
tember q, to give the Repupiican COIL
fsrrees time for reflection.
The present basis of apportionment
Of delegates is 40 for Wilmington; 80
for New Castle county; 40 for Kent,
and AZ for Sussex; total 100. This Da-
sis was agreed upon in 1866 and the
late Nathaniel B. Smithers wrote the
resolution. Colonel Benjamin Nields,,
Of wilmington, figured out the appor-
tionment which was based upon the
census of 1860. It divided the dele
rates precisely on the basis of popula-
tion. The late Samuel M. Harrington
was chairman of the Republican State
Committee and issued the proclama-
tion to the party throughout the State.
1t was the purpose and spirit of the
Smithers resolution that the appor-
tionment should be revised after each
successive census, after 1870, 1850,
1890, etc. This part of the resolution
of 1866 was never put into effect for
the reason that when the conventions
were harmonious nobody cared to dis
turb the balance Of 1866 and when the
conventions were divided into factions
neither side was reckless enough to
stir up question that would only have
added more fuel to the flames. During
the dark days of reconstruction and
through the seventies, when the Re
publican organizations of the Southern
states seemed to exist largely for the
sake of the federal offices, the so-called
ssKent County Ring" was in the as
cendancy. Beginning with 1880 and up
to May, 1896, with the exception of the
disastrous campaign Of 1882, when the
Democrats swept the country, carry
ing New York by majority Of 1872, 600,
the leaders in this county controlled
the organization.
1t is noteworthy fact, to be borne
In mind by all Republicans in this cri-
sis, that from 1882 until last year the
party conventions were absolutely free
from strife. Only two contests, involv-
ing the seat of a single delegate in
each, came before the eight conven-
tions held during this period Of twelve
years. No better proof can be given Of
the wisdom, moderation and fair
mindedness Of the leaders then in con-
troll than the absolute absence Of con-
tention and bitterness from the con-
ventions. We doubt il there is another
state in the union where either or any
party can show such record of har-
mony and good will as that which
characterized the Republican gather
ings OF the 1s84-96 period.
During this period the party nomi-
mated for Congress: The Hon. Anthony
Higgins, 1884; There was no contest
made in 1886; the Hon. Charles Il.
Treat, 1888; the Hon. Henry 2. Can
non, 1890; the Hon. Jonathan 3. Will
lis, 1892 and again in 1894. The party
nominated no one for Governor in
1886; in 1890 the Hon. Harry A. Rich
ardson was named and the late lamen-
ted Joshua 81. Marvel in 1894. While
the control of the several conventions
was unquestionably in the hands Of The
New Castle delegates, five Of the six
candidates put up we're taken from
Kent and Sussex counties. The Repub-
licans of the two lower counties re-
turned this feeling of amity and good
will in 1889 by electing Mr.. Higgins
to the United States Senate. It was
truly an era Of good feeling, which
eyentuated into the sweeping success In
1894.
The majority that marked that
sweeping victory was practically all
supplied by the city Of Wilmington.
The rural part of this county and Sus-
sex county were carried for us by
meagre pluralities, but Kent county