Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-15


Pending State Campaign.
Every Evening, June eSsh, 1888.
Tho Democratic politician who airily
predicts that the Democratic party will
have an easy time and comfortable
victury in the coming State campaign
is but a foolish leader and false
prophet.
II is fact patent to all that the
Democratic party of Delaware, under
the leadership OF recent years, has been
steadily losing ground, until the laut
State election showed 1t to be in
minority by over three thousand votes.
OF course, much of this retrogresslon
must be attributed to the division OF
the party upon the money issue, but IL
Is not entirely due to this source. In
1881, the Democrats carried the State
by majority of four thousand. In
1899, the last year Of straight Demo-
cratic victory in Delaware, the margin
of success was barely five hundred
votes. and that, too. in tho face of
wave of Democratic sentiment that
swept over the entire country and
riumphnntly placed Grover Cleveland
10 the Presidential chair.
This year, tho Democratic party Of
Delaware enters upon the campaign
with the division of tho Republican
party into two hostile factions as its
main hope of victory. Under existing
Democratic conditions, real union OF
the Republican factions would be-
almost equivalent to Democratic disas-
ter.
The conclusion is inevitable, thers-
fore. that to conduct the political con-
Test with the slightest shadow Of Huc-
csss-eyen in the face Of Republican
diyision-the Democratic party must
inaugurate a change OF leadership, and
change OF policy, both clean, sharp
and radical. In addition to varioua
causes that have led to it's deteriora-
ton, it has two deadly millstonss abuuy
it's neck--the recent General Assembly,
and the close personal connection OF
! men who have heretofore been con-
spicuous in party leadership with the
unsavory scandals growing out of the
J robbery OF the First National Bank OF
: Dover.
r Both of these evil and retrogressive
influences must be absolutely repu.
diated by the Democratic party oil
Delaware before it can indulge in the
shadow of hope of victory 10 the coming
; campaign, no matter what may be the
condition of the Republican party. Tt
inaugurate campaign like raceni
I Democratic campaigns in this State,
/, would be to deliberately invite defeat
i from even divided Republican party.
Either Of the factions Of that party
would defeat the Democratic organiza.
tion thus discredited before the people
. and the only issue, of the election woult
F.. be which Republican faction would
: poll the greater number Of votes, ant
thus win the victory.
The honest Democrats of Delaware
: therefore, in the coming primaries
> should sternly send to the rear th,
entire gang of discredited and dis
reputable leaders vino have so com
pletely encompassed the disuomfltur
of the, party. Not single one of tn
j. bank wreckers or single one of then
= sympsthizers should be recognized as
IS friend of the party or accepted in an
!, capacity Of leadership. Not a singl
4 man, member or lobbyist, who built U
Is the disgraceful record Of the last sea
~ sion of the General Assembly shoult
n lie endorsed by nomination for a singh
y place upon the Democratic ticket
y There should be complete repudiatIo
y of the entire selfish and unsavory LOT
n BY this means only can the Demo
!. cratic party hops to make a cree
3, itable showing in the coming can
paign. or preserve the self-respoct c
/. its organization. Will It heed the plai
N conditions and act accordingly? Ever
u friend Of real Democracy and Of th
g. State will sincerely hope SO.
I; 1t can be said TO the credit OF th
d, Democrats Of Kent county that /
I. making their county ticket they hay
!, largely followed the lines laid down
& the above editorial. 1t now remain
70 for this Democrats of New Castle an
II Sussex to act with equal wisuom. Thr
H. will the way hs opensd to Democrat
! victory in Delaware this year.
b. Temporary Pastor for nit Salem.
n The Rev. Z. n. Dashiell, Loo
n deacon OF the Baltimore Conference
II the Methodist Episcopal Church Soutl
Id who bus Iuen supplying the pulpit
n. the Port Penn Church. has been put
p" charpe nf Mt Salen Churcb WHARF