Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
DISTRICT aTnoRNEY lGRAHAnl

trict Attorney Graham, i'm which he
proposes to aalow his name to go for
denomination before the approaching
nominating convention, has caused
more or less comment OF a somewhat |
excitable and unwise nature. The Bust |
ness Mems League, for instance, has is
sued a mamie 9sto, enc that is not re-
markable for its tolerant or charitable
spirit opposing Mr. Graham's proposed
determination to put himself in line for
nomination to succeed himself as Dis
trict Attorney. The League in question
charges MIR. Graham with blasphemy
simply because he, MIR. Graham, when
writing to the pu bile, expressed him
self as follows: IT am prepared to meet
every emergency that may arise with
full confidence iii my position and
faith in Almighty Cod" 1t is difficult
to perceive wherasin MIR. Graham is at
all blasphemous, at least so far as mis-
public letter Is ,concerned. M fact the
BUSINESS Mems League falls into error
when 1t makes SO absurd and idiotic
a charge. We much prefer the man
who is ready at all times and seasons
to admit his faith in a Supreme Being
to the man who is unwilling to admit
thesame. 1t is possible that Mr.. Graham,
by reason Of certain half-alleged moral
llapses-lapses which have not, as yet,
taken on a specific charaeter--may not
be am altogether desirable nominee for
tn Attorneyship- At the same time
there is a something about the Bust
ness Mems League manifesto which
will hardly commend itself to the pub
lie mind. It's tone, savors too much Of
the Il thank God that I am not as
other men" sort of cant; its tone savors
too much of the pharisaical attitude OF
the modern Levite, the man who gath
: ers up his own immaculate CD skirts
and passes by on the other side.
: 1t is Just possible that Mr. Graham,
S seeing that a more or less important
, element of public opinion is against
y him. would be wise man were he to
withdraw his name from the approach
ing convention. 1t has been demon
+ strated time and again that the stroke
Z of public opinion is very telling, more
q powerful indeed than the stroke Of
! Thors hammer. Few men, unless sus-
tanned by the consciousness of a mighty
right. have possessed the temerity to
buck up against it; and history tells
us that whenever any such temerity
! has been evinced the possessor thereof
has been obliged to bite TIE dust Of q
bitter and humiliating defeat. When
the late Charles Stewart Parnell's dis
N reputable liaison with Kitty O'Shea
wife Of that still more disreputable
H Captain O'Shea-a man who condoned
n MIR. Parneil's offense SO long as 1t paid
him to do so--came to the surface Mr.
\ Gladstone and Others high in office en-
NJ deaNored, but vainly so, to impress
" lupon Mr.. Parnell the wisdom of 'lay-
NJ ing low" until such tnmes as the storm
\ Of public indignation haS passed over
u But Mr.. Parnell, like Banquo's ghost
: would not down until the public
n "downed" him, which it did in double
II quick time. Now MIR. Graham, both
\ mentally and every other ally is q
y mere pocket edition OF the once able
~ and brilliant Parnell. Therefore it is
a just on the cards that it would be folly
he itself for Mr.. Graham-were he to at
"a tempt to force matters-to court pos
7, sible defeat by attempting a task which
- greater man than he failed to bring
II to successful issue.
n we are not unmindful of the fac
that Mr. Graham, for nearly score o
years, has done yeoman service in til,
N, office OF District Attorney; and 1t il
the reverse Of that which is pleasing
IN to reflect that Mr.. Graham, by reason
" OF either this or that possible mora
Of delinquency lapse to which even tn
n best and wisest OF us all may be oblige.
on on to plead guilty-may possibly he rele
!, gated to a state of political oblivion
Il. We held the opinion that the presen
or aspersion Of MIR. Graham's persona
ed character much Of which aspersioi
ae' may be OF a more or less irresponsible
- character, should assume a more tangi
81 BILE shape before it is de24ued to fore
ali that gentleman into retirement Tw
sides to a question invariably exist; IAN
nj in the absence Of any direct or specifl
ln accusation against MIR. Graham, and /
81 the absence OF that gentlemans repl
~ to any possible direct or specific accu
ur- sation, it is only fair TO assume tina
thy Mr.. Graham has a legitimate RICH
a if he so deems it wise, to base hi
.ne claims for denomination and re-eleC
No ton on his official record.
car Meanwhile it would perhaps be a
air well were the men who are attemptin
TO to force Mr.. Graham to the wall, me
at who are ever fond of grinding on