Middletown transcript., 1897-07-24
DIssEMRLER AND 4 Hrro-

sometimes calls TO disagreeable tasks
and truth requires plain words. On
Saturday last, July 18th, The Every
Evening returned 10 its self-appointed
task of misrepresenting one half the
citizens Of this State by telling but
half the truth. By its cant upon brib
cry it has done more than all other
agencies to drag the name of the
State into the mire of political disgrace,
until Delawareans away from home
are almost ashamed to own their ma
tiyity. 1t has fostered, encouraged and
promoted bribery in its owh party both
by its failure to condemn it therein
and by contributions of thousands of
dollars by its owner to the party cam
paign funds. It should hang its head
in shame at its sins of commission as
we'll as omission instead of hypocriti-
calIy pointing ont the mistakes of its
neighbors.
But why refer to this mattsr2 Be-
cause the Every Evening as an accom-
plished dissembler knows. by constant
repetition it can convert some to its
way of thinking, that bribery by Re-
publicans is an evil, that bribery by
Democrats is not to be referred to.
These charges oft repeated, have an
effect at home as well as abroad, and
the Every Evening would break down
the influence of every Republican lead
or without regard to his character and
lessena all party ties. This is its object.
The Republican papers Of Wilmington
have greater opportunities for making
direct and telling replies to all these
matters than have we but since in
their judgment they let the whining
hypocrite repeat his cry without inter-
ruption, party regard calls US to the
task.
The article referred to was headed,
nTwo Views of Republican Gorrup-
tion.n No one condemns bribery more
than the writer, but in its condemna-
tion the, truth and the whole truth
should be told. La the first place this
is not a campaign year and partisan
politics should be tabooed, and in the
next place since the Constitutional
Convention has, we believe and hope,
put stop to bribery there is neither
reason nor sense in further referring
to our great shame and keeping be-
fore the people at large this unpleasant
feature of our political history. The
Every Evening quotes from the Mil
| ford Chronicle and the Sussex Repub-
lican to prove that bribery has existed
In the Republican Party in Delaware,
| with the comment "when rogues fal
out honest men get their dues" That
money has been used at elections no
Delawarean doubts though the Demo-
Gratis have been the longest and most
persiste Mt offenders, and the files of the
Every Evening will prove it. The
present editor Of Every Evening knows
that his party used money at the prim-
aries, thousands Of dollars,S in 1888 to
control the senatorshi p, and be knows
| that at the election that fall they used
as much money at the polls in Sussex
county as did the Republicans, in fact
more, and far more in Kent county
was used by Democrats to carry through
the 'unit-rule" ticket which failed.
Merris Taylor knows all this and yet
he would give out the impression that
only Republicans are guilty of these
sins, let us hope now forever Of the
| past. Perhaps he is compelled by the
owner of the paper to thus write, and
4 and If so, what is to be said of the man
who contributes thousands of dollars
to his party fund and uses his paper to
misrepresent his opponents and to cover
his own shame?
4
There are some amusing matters in
the editorial in the Every Evening. 1t
tells how the Milford Chronicle de-
cIairs .'lhe watchword of Della.
ware Republicans since 1888 has been
fight the devil with fire,''' Doodle be-
ing the fire" and the Democratic
Party of which the Every Evening
Eimagines itself the head and tail. be-
ing the devil" The Every Evening
may have mastered the Greek maxim
''Know thyseH," and acknowledges
the .devil.
1t is not true that the money used in
Sussex county in 1888 by the Republi.
cans was raised in New Castle county.
The writer was interested in that cam
paign and knows. The amount OF
money used for bribery direct, not
counting taxes, was comparatively
| small, not near so much as the owner
of the Every EveLing contributed to-
wards his own election if report s are
correct, and even then his party friends
thought him niggardly. AS has been
said the Democrats Of Sussex used
more money at that election than did
the Republicans. The campaign that
year vas one of education and the peo-
pie favored the election of the Repub-
lican ticket. Without dollar on
either side Rspublicanism would have
won. With nearly an equal division,
for money raised by Democrats in Sns-
sex was sent TO Kent in the effort to
pull Wolcott through. the Republicans
won. That was the first Republican
; victory for years. it was the stepping
stone to the New Constitution SO long
: fought against by the leaders in the
Democratic Party. Whether It is ever
| r;,xtk - a., xxyrov.rv that rood NAV he