The sun., 1898-10-08


county the agreement was received as an
earnest endeayor upon the part of all
Republicans to unite in common cause
to secure victory over the Democratic
party. The candidates to be selected at
such primary election were to stand as
Republicans and no pre6xes were taken
into consideration.
| This is fair statement of fact which
no Union Republican will contradict
On the contrary they insist that this
was both the stipulated and implied
terms Of the agreement. They also insist
that they have kept this agreement both
in the letter and spirit, while the politi'
cal friends of the Morning Ne,cs, the So
called Regular Republicans, violated that
agreement both in letter and spirit.
1t is this condition of things which
has made it necessary for the Union Re-
publican County Committee to demand
pledges for Republican legislative unity
upon political questions, of the mer
whose names it is now asked to certify
to as the names of Union Republican
candidates preparatory to giving them
places on that party's ticket. This de-
mand might not have been necessary,
had the conduct of the primary election
been within the terms of the agreement,
but think little consideration of the
relations of the two parties to this agree
ment for a common primary election,
will make it plain that such a demand
would not be unreasonable under any
circumstances.
The Morning Neus' statement is this:
'The candidates to be selected at such pri.
mary election were to stand as Republi-
cans and no prefxes were to be taken into
consideration" What does that mean?
Is it to be understood that either of
these political organizations was ex-
pected to sink its individuality into and
under the rules of the other party? If
so, which one was to surrender? 1t
means nothing of the kind. ltcould not
mean that. The agreement was made
after the Union Republican party had re-
fused to make such surrender, and was
made expressly y to avoid even the appear
ance OF such thing up,n the part of
either party. 1t follows that there was
no surrender of any right of either or
ganization, nor was any rule of either or
ganization abrogated or SET aside They
were all operative before, during and
after the nomination election. l'res it
not follow that the gentlemen who be-
came candidates at that nomination elec-
tion were seeking Union Republican
votes and as candidates nominated, are
now seeking Union Republican votes?
And are they not seeking them under the
Union Republican rules?
ha - l,n
that this is an attempt to pledge the cam
didates after they have been nominated,
is not warranted by the facts. The
truth is that in seeking an alliance with
the Union Republicans, in which mo
prefxes were to be taken into considera-
tion," the "Reguars" assented to the
Union Republican rules and became
bound by them, SO far as they relate, to
party unity on political questions. The
requirement Of those rules is that men,
bers OF the Legislature elected by Union
Republican votes shall attend a Repubi-
can caucus OF the members elected by
the Union Republican party, and shall
support by their votes the caucus nomi-
nees for all offices to be filled by the Gen
eral Assembly. Is that not political
| question? And is it not reasonable that
the Union Republicans should ask can
didates asking for their votes if they ac-
cepted or rejected the authority of that
rule? But again, the purpose OF the agree
ment was the attainment of party unity.
When was that unity to begin, how long
was it to last and when was it to be
operative? Was it simply for nomination
day, for the campaign or for the egisla-
tive session? The truth OF the matter is,
the voters of both parties were made to
believe that the unity established by this
agreement was to be permanent. If that
was reasonable understanding of the
agreement, it must have entaled upon
Regulars and Union Republicans alike
all that was necessary for the attainment
of that end. 1t remains, however, as
shown by the facts, that these entail
ments were entirely acceptances-"no
prciiXes were to be COnsidered.' That
all the candidates who became such
under this agreement were ready to SUBJ
scribe to all these implied acceptances
and obligations is just and reasonable
conclusion.
The circumstances, however, have
changed this reasonable conclusion into
necessity for demanding subscription
to this clearly implied obligation to take
part in and abide by the result of
Union Republican caucus, that being the
only caucus provided for in the party
rules governing the primary elections,
the campaign and the legislative action
OF candidates after election.
The epitome Of the agreement made by
the -Norniag Ne,rs, ''no prefxes were to
be taken into consideration. happily is
defense for the Union Republicans.
This phraseology covers their interpreta-
ton OF the text of the agreement exactly.
They abided by that Interpretation
vigorously. Now here is Union Republic
can chargeabIe with having raised a fac
tlonaI issue during the primary cam
paign. The action of the "Reguars'
was exactly the opposite to that Of the
Union Republicans. In every district of
this county, and against every candidate,
they raised the factional cry; when this
use OF factional 'preixes' was not suf-
ficlent, opposition candidates were forced
out in order to defeat the candidates
labelled with the Objectionable "pre-
fixes"
1t is charged that Colonel Henry A. du
Pont went along the Brandywine creek
electioneering against Francis S. Brad
In,y i