The sun., 1898-10-06
THE KENT COUNTY ORDER.

The Superior Court of Delaware, in is
suing peremptory writ against the Kent
county election officers of 1896 have done
just exactly what should have been done.
That it was not done sooner is matter
for regret. These election officers have
been ordered, and there is no appeal,
to meet on October II to canvass and
tabulate the returns of the election OF
that year.
1t will be remembered that, as result
of the high-handed proceedings of the
Democratic members OF the returning
board of 1898 ten Republicans elected as
members OF the Constitutional Conven-
ton, seven Republicans elected as mem
bers of the House CT Representatives,
one Republican elected as State Senator,
one elected as sheriff, one elected as
county treasurer and one elected as coro.
ner, were all declared not elected, by the
throwing out of several districts that had
given Republican pluralities. Five Of
the Republican candidates for delegates
to the Constitutional Convention were
seated however, the result of peculiar
compromise, and five Democrats who
were not elected we're also seated. The
one senator and the seven representa-
tives not elected were seated, bv virtue
of the right of both houses of the Gen
eral Assembly to determine the qualifca-
tions of its own members. The sheriff,
county treasurer ana coroner, who had
been elected previously, held over, and
are still in Office. Although prompt ac-
ton was taken to obtain a judicial deci.
sion upon the question, a combination of
circumstances delayed final action until
now.
The men who composed the board of
election officers in 1896 are now called
upon to perform duty they should have
performed nearly two years ago. If they
fail to do as the court orders they will
have to answer for contempt. No atone
ment can be made for the great wrong
done the men who were deprived of the
Offices to which they were elected, but
it will 60 upon record, positive and be-
yond dispute, that the Democrats of
Kent county committed contemplate
crime two years ago. 1t will lie placed
upon the records Of the court, and for
ever it will be known of men what man
ner of rascality was employed by the
Delaware Democrats to nulIify the re-
suits of popular election.
The men who were defrauded of their
rights will have no redress, but when the
order Of the court is carried out it will be
officially discovered that every Republ-
can candidate received plurality Of the
votes cast. 1t was the duty Of the b ard
of election officers to receive and tabdlate
the returns made, and upon the results
obtained to1ssue certificates to the men
who had received the highest votes for
the respective Offices. When it was dis
covered that the Republicans had secured
plurallties the Democrats simply threw
out several Republican districts and gave
certificates to the Democratic candidates.
That is the wrong which the court has
ordered to be undone.
When the work is completed the
Democrats who committed the crime
will have branded themselves forever.
They will not perform the work with
any heart in it, and while the Republi-
can candidates will receive no benefits
the Democratic election officers will be
on record as having committed crime
against the ballot. The men who have
pushed the case to its present status de-
serve commendation. They have done
much for the cause of good government
and honest elections. Such crimes will
not be possible in the future, but it is
Just as well to have a legal decision in
the long-pending ontroversy.-M Morning
News.
Does anybody recall any effort on the
part of The Morning News to right this
grievous wrong two years ago. Represen-
tatives of THE Morning Ne~s say 'I repre-
sent the most powerful newspaper in
Delaware" or words to that effect This
crime against all the People of Delaware
was perpetrated a full year before TIE
Sun was established. Democratic news
papers, as a rule, do net rush to the fore
with proofs of crimes committed by Dem
ocrats The Morning Neus should have
demonstrated its power in this case for
Political reasons as well as for advertis-
ing purposes. If The Morning Neus has