The sun., 1898-11-28

Mills, then resident OF lover, anu
superintendent of the Delaware Rail
road, vas chosen chairman OF the con.
ventinn and that body was organized
amid tumult su II az had never been
known among Delaware Republicans.
The New Castle county fnl ks came home
disronftted and snrr 'wful over posi-
biz loss of the Federal patronage, and
Senatorial candidates were sad and
grumpy over unexpected but now ap.
parent complications in the Senatorial
canvass two years hence. The work.
however. went on. The campaign ol
"S2" opened with fair Republican pros.
poets. The "down country crowd" won
again and were in control Of the conven.
tion which nominated Albert Curry for
governor, and Washington Hastings for
Congress The campaign that followed
was a romance in politics. Richard Har.
ringtnn was chosen chairman OF the
STATE committee and some snper-sensi.
tive-mugwump neutrality-suspicious.
rebelled. George W. Stone, as chairman
of the New Castle county committee, RI.
fused to cooperate with Chairman Har.
! 'rngton. and was superseded by II. G..
McLear.
Hon. Anthony Higgins, who was then
an aspirant for Congressional honors re.
sentt the nomination of his friend and
faithful follower, Mr.. Hastings, for Con.
gress, and the whole of what is now the
Regular" Republican party organiza-
tion--except the boys-went into rebel
lion. The result was New Castle county
| lnft RI a win, 10 m
paign began in Kent and Sussex codn.
ties. New Castle hung back in the
traces, but Kent and Sussex resp nded
enthnsiasticaIl The new constitution
caravan OF that year was greeted more
enthusiastically and was followed by
larger crowds than followed the hard
cider professions OF the 1910 and "A cam
paigns Every meeting, and two were
held every day, Sunday excepted, from
October 5 to November 5, was great
outpour OF people. The Democrats had
refused a joint canvass, but had arranged
schedule of meetings preceding the Re-
publican by one day at most of the
PRINCIPAL points in the two counties.
Their meetings were failures. The Re-
publican meetings were enthusiastic sue
cesses
The most astute Democratic observers
concluded that the Democrats were
beaten. The late Thomas F. Bayard,
returning from Sussex county brought
the news OF probable Democratic de.
feat--he had invaded the Salisbury
domain and was being sold out lie
saw and recognized the conditions o
defeat
Behind all this Republican enthusiasm
was the appreciation and promise of sus
tenance from the President OF the United
States President Arthur had demanded
some evidence Of Republican ability tt
, win the State, and it was given him II
the election of a Wilmington city govern
ment; DR.. John ?. Wales being elecre(
: mayor. The State committee was thel
assured OF the liberal aid of the Nationa
Republican Committee, and was in
, strut ted to make the best fight posi-
+ BILE, and call upon the National Commit
tee for any reasonable amount of as
, campaign was fought to within a wee
y OF election day, and with the Democrat
> everywhere discouraged and defeated
:. the Republicans were paraIyzed by tn
n reception in this State Of message irol
r Senator Salisbury, at Washington, say
!. ing:
THE bottom is out Of the Rcpubl
a can tub! Harrington will get n
8 money!
: That the Republican. were defeated
3. history.
Tlr rfn IN, hot n
Il paign as in former ones, and the calls
l, Of Republican defeat was the Unite
e States Senatorship. Mr.. Bavard's teri
Z was about to expire, and President \
% thur was interested to have him left
% home, hence the Presidents interest
z, Delaware politics OF course Republ
10 can candidates were plenty, but Ne
Castle county had practically ruled itse
e. out. The winning OF RepubIcs
is Legislature would have given its repr
le sentativps no rightful claim upon tt
le Senatorship. In Kent county the lo
x n. b. Smithers and George V. Masse
Mt had Joined hands with the New Cast
e. county diSaffrcts, and they too we
lg Lowled cut OF the race. There we're sol
" funny political gymnastics near the clio
~ vi liIdV laili !'algh. .hi' iiiSSiIo oP' al
.ir to the fore, sud lenly, and made gre
Is. speech in the Grand Opera House,
'st which the veterans Of the now Regul
yr- (?) Republican organization were co
mt spicnous. Mr.. Smitlers and Mr.. Mass
.rs hurried from cover in Kent, the latt
on gentleman causing the circulation Of
is petition to be presented to Mr.. Snthe
and himself asking them to allow the
he friends to arrange for several meetings
ty them in Kent county.
ay 1t was too late, and the knife had c
No to deep Senator Saulsbury's dispat
an lad sealed the Republican party's doc
'et in that campaign. The money viii
on President Arthur hal promised shou
Tor come to Delaware had gone elsewhe
te. John G. Baker, than whom there cou
OF be no better witness needed in any ca
'e' who was member of the Republic
Ar. National Committee of that year, tc
,g, the writer that the money had been
ID: verted from Delaware by the direct int
of ference of Mr.. Higgins and Mr.. Masst
X. During the campaign of 1896 the wri
art read long letter, written by veter
be. Republican OF this State-a friend OF \
nd Higgins lin which he repeated the etc