The sun., 1898-11-20

Century Club of Smyrna and entertain
most pleasingly.
ONE FATAL GLASS OF WINE.
Persons Who Think it Changed the
Course Of Politics in This
Country.
The Democratic party in Delaware has
been shorn of its control after thirty
years Of continuous reign.
The State was wrested from their grasp
in the recent election not by the oppos-
ing political party but because OF lack of
strength in the accepted Democratic
to hold the party together.
During the last ten years the Demo.
cratic party has cast aside the honored
line of Bayards, Saulsburys and Grays,
whose strength of policy and forceful
advice had for years been accepted by
the party and whose eloquence and logic
always carried the day.
The party during a recess in its control
of the State ten years ago had its mind
poisoned by unwise councillors and came
again to the front with Kenney, a
Hawkins, a younger Salisbury and a
Biggs as leaders. The result is now
well known and it calls to mind the
disruption of the National Demo-
cratic p,rly in lSG0--a story worth tell
ing.
1t is said t,iat single glass of wine
probably wrecked the Democratic party
in 1860.
After the breaking up OF the National
the party in Georgia held State Conven.
ton. Great excitement prevailed. The
leaders Of the party could not agree. 1t
was critical period.
The majority report indorsed the
seceders or boilers at Charleston, while
the minority report opposed their action.
The leading champion OF the minority
was Herschel V. johnson, and his
followers were confident that his
eloquence and logic would carry the
day.
1t is quite likely that such would have
| been the case but for an unfortunate
mishap. Ex-Goveriiiur johnson began
his speech before the noon adjournment
WI tlIc scCOli uah anu CoIlGIuuCu dltcI
dinner.
Old men who remember that speech
say that it was powerful argument, and
tIle impression gained ground that after
the noon recess the speaker would de-
molish his opponents with Il few sledge-
hammer blows.
/ But the over confident friends OF the
minority report were doomed to lisap.
pointment. johnson felt the strain of
tAe morning session so mnch that he was
unable to eat anything, and lie took a
glass Of wine upon an empty stomach
to strengthen himself. This was a
fatal mistake. That one glass of wine
perhaps changed tie destiny of the
nation.
The great orator resumed his speech,
bit the wine had nauseated him. He was
h@zv, verbose and unintclligiblea at times
Ills style and argument lacked vigor,
consistency and positivcncss. His friends
looked at one another in despair The
men on the other side were cxultant. I:
wa- evident that the speaker had dam
aged his own cause.
Then Howell Cobb and Henry r. Jack
son followed each other for the majority
report, They spoke witt, an air OF eX
pectant triumph and captured the con-
yen!i"n.
The majority report was adopted. 1t is
unnecessary to follow the history Of the
EexL lew weeks. The National Democ.
racy was completely disrupted and pnt
two tickets in the field. Lincoln was
etec,eu and the country was plunged
into civil war. Had johnson succeeded
ia inducing the Georgia convention TO
ah"pl his conservative ideas it is sale to
say ina, other Southern States would
lavc ia'len int, line with the Georgia
common caith and the National Demo-
cratic party would have remained
| united.
This istEc story 81 what u little glass
OF wIur did. 1t ruined great party,
caurrl Il disastrous war, and besides the
lions OF dollars. Perhaps this is rather
speculative, but there are many who be-
lIpyv'l it IL generation ago.
4 pension has been reissucd to Mich
scI TrahbolH of this city. Margaret II
Fuchcr of Cool Spring and Margaret
Hays Of Henry Clay have been granted
Wiinws' original pensions.
The wedding OF du POnt Walker of
Do,er and Miss L,Iia Cole, daughter Of
Amos Cole, formerly sheriff of Kent
county, vii! take place at the residence
of the brides parents, in this city, next
Wednesday.
Our merchants sell commodities as en-
cr!rnt in texture aid as cheap in price
as ~ any place in this country. This
you ca, soon ascertain by calling on
them.
Special services will be held at the
Harrison Street NJ. f. Church on Thanks
giving Day. A jug breaking for the pur-
posv Vi creating u sinking fund will take
place in the evening.