Evening journal., 1897-09-16
THURSDAY. SEPT. ls, 1897.
AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.
The Importance of the Republican
and Union Republican conference to be
held at Dover this evening should not
be underestimated. It will have direct
and far-reaching influence upon the po-
litical affairs of our state. 1t will de-
termine whether or not the two wings
of the party are so far apart as to be
unable TO unite in a common effort to
wrest the state from Democratic con-
troll at the next general election.
Such rancor as that which has eX-
listed between them in the past pre-
cludes the assumption that they will be
able to patch up a lasting peace with
out such a sacrifice Of principle and
prejudice as to render It disgrace to
all parties who become parties to it.
The issue between the regular Repub-
licans and Union Republicans has been
so clearly defined in the past that there
Is no mistaking the feeling which will
prevail at the conference this evening
The aim Of the Union Republicans has
been to make J. Edward Addicks the
central and paramount figure in our
state politics. That of the regular Re
publicans has been to destroy the Ad-
dicks influence and to drive him out of
the party councils. This spirit of in
tolerance has been so bitter that 1t will
be practically impossible to prevent 1t
from wrecking any and all peace over
lures, no matter how smooth the politi-
cal waters may appear on the surface.
The undercurrent will be so strong on
both sides as to render nugatory any
thing which will be done at this even
ing's conference
1t must not be forgotten that the
peace proposals came from the Union
Republicans and that it indicates not
so much their desire for peace as their
conviction that their own party is too
weak in numbers and influence to de-
stroy the regular Republican organiza-
- uotC THAT they would have destroyed
2 Il is evidenced by their actions Of the
past five years, during which time they
have raised the cry of "Addicks or mo-
bodyl" and fought their battles along
that line. The Union Republican or
ganization is now on the verge of bank
ruptcy and disintegration and it looks
to the regular Republican organization
TO save it and make it part of Itself
for consideration. If the regulars viii
only leave the Addicksites alone they
can get them for nothing. They are be
coming cheaper and cheaper every day
and will soon be a drug on the politi
cal market.
II cannot be expected that the regu
lars will accept the overtures of ganl
of political traitors and conspirator
and raise them to an equal footing
with themselves. It would be dishon
orable and suicidal and practically com
pounding felony. Once a traitor alway
a traitor. To have such an element a
the Addicksites within the regular Re
publican lines and councils would be
standing menace and a source Of never
ending but well-founded anxiety.
Regular Republicans have made
splendid fight against Addicks and AZ
dicksism. They have been sustained b
the moral character of the war whic
they have been waging against tn
Wholesale corruption not only of n
party. but also of the electorate of tn
entire state. They cannot be expecte
to cease hostilities until they have az
complshed the elimination of Addici
and Addicksism and forced the Addick
ties to surrender at discretion.