Middletown transcript., 1898-09-17

4 sa5F
be restored to the conditions of peace
and that the burdens Of war taxation
be lessened.
Notwithstanding an oyer1owine
Treasury and almost unlimited appro.
priations by Congress, we find that the
gallant volunteer soldiers in the field
and even those in camps on our own
soil, have suffered unnecessary hard.
ships and privations. In a land OF
plenty, soldiers have lacked food; with
the unlimit ed capacity of our factories
to turn out clothes and shoes, soldiers
have been ragged and barefooted; not
withstanding the great advances in
medical and sanitary science, soldiers
have suffered for lack of medicine and
disease and death have ravaged peace
full camps. It is said that in this war
only 800 soldiers have died from
wounds, while 1900 have died from
preventable diseases.
"We demand that a rigid and i'm
partial investigation be made of the
conduct of the War Department, aud
just responsibility be fixed upon those
whose mismanagement or incompeteney
has inflicted this needless suffering and
death on SO many Of the soldiers Of this
Republic.
"Tne men who enlisted in the mag.
nifcent regiment which was raised in
Delaware entered the army for the pur-
pose of fighting the armed foes of our
country. Now that the fighting is over
we sympathize with the desires Of our
men to be mustered out of the service,
and we endorse the action of Gov. Tun-
nell in requesting their discharge. We
condemn the action Of the War De-
partment in retaining in the service
the whole of our regiment, while half
of the volunteers from other States
have been discharged.
'The Democratic party generously
trusted by the people, has been almost
continuously in control of the affairs Of
Delaware for 40 years. Its record in
this State has been one of honesty,
economy and devotion to the public
welfare. On the whole, the Demo-
cratic party in Delaware has been
sound and true to the great and bene-
icent principles upon which as an
organization it is founded. Its record
proves that it is more worthy of trust
and confidence to-day than the Repub-
lican party is or ever has been.
1.-THE Republican party in Delaware
has forfeited all right to the confidence
of good citizens by falling under the
foul and malign influence of a corrupt
political adventurer, who in his impu-
dent effort to seize in this State a poll
tical honor for which he is utterly un-
fit, has used methods in the primaries
Of the Republican party and at the
general election SO base and corrupt
that the reputable portion of the Re-
publican party withdrew from fellow
ship with him and in 1896 set up sep
arate organization of its own.
'It is not necessary for Democrats to
explain what this adventurer and cor
ruptionist threatens to do in this State.
The Regular Republicans made that
explanation in full two years ago, and
all men know what degradation would
follow his control of our affairs. His
men now in control of the Sussex Levy
Court teach us what to expect when
ever and wherever his men reach
power.
"We declare that the preservation of
the purity Of the ballot, and the integ-
rity of the electoral franchise in the
State is the. paramount duty of good
citizenship. and we call on all patriotic
men to assist in resisting the attack
that is made on both. We pledge our
party to strict and vigorous enforce
ment of all laws to prevent fraud,
bribery and corruption at elections"