Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-30
The Duty of tho Democratic Party in the
Coming State Campaign.

S~f-N~
The Democratic politician who airily
predicts that the Democratic party
will have an sasy time and a com
Portable victory in the coming State
campaign ia hut foolish leader and
false prophet.
1t is fact patent to all that the
Democratic party of delaware, undor
the leadership OF recent years, has been
steadily losing ground, until the last
State election showed ii to be in a
minority by over three thousand votes.
Of course, much of this retrogression
must DO attributed to the division of
the party upon the money issue, but it
10 not entirely due to this source. In
1881, the Democrats carried the State
by a majority of four thousand, In
1892, tue last year of straight Democratic
victory in Delaware, the margin of
SUCCESS was barely five hundred votes,
and that, too, in the face of wave of
Democratic sentiment that swept over
the entire country and triumphantly
placed Grover Cleveland in the Prssi.
Dental chair.
This year, tho Democratic party of
Delaware entors upon the campaign
with the division of the Republican
party into two hostile factions as it's
only hope OF victory. Under existing
Democratic conditions, real union Of
the Republican factions would be
equivalent to Democratic disaster.
The conclusion is inevitable, there
fore. that to conduct the political con
test with the slightest shadow of sue.
cess-even in the face of Republican
diyision-the Democratic party must
inaugurate change of leadership, and
q change of policy, both clean, sharp
and radical, In addition to various
causes that have led to ita de-
terioratiUn. it has two deadly mill
stones about its neck-the recert
General Assembly, and the close per.
sonal connection of men who have
heretofore been conspicuous in party
leadership with the unsayory scandals
growing out of the robbery of tho kira
National Bank at Dover.
Both of these evil and retrogressivl
influences must be absolutely re
pudiated by the Democratic party 0
Delaware before it can indulge 10 th
shadow Of hope of victory in tn
coming campaign, no matter what ma
bs the condition of the Republican
party. To inaugurate campaign lik
recent Democratic campaigns in thi
stats. would be to deliberately invit
defeat from even a divided Republica
party. Either of the factions of tina
party would defeat the Democrat
Organization thus discredited befor
the people, and the only issue of tn
election would be which Republica
faction would poll the greater numbe
OF votes, and thus win the victory.
The honest Democrats of Delaware
therefore, 10 the coming primarie.
should sternly send to the rear III
entire gang of discredited and di
reputable leaders who have SO con
pletely encompassed the discontinue
the party. Not a single one of I'll
bank wrecksrs or single one of the
sympathizers should te recognized {
friend of the party or accepted
any capacity of leadership. Not
single man, member or lobbyist, wi
built up the disgraeoful record of Il
last session of the General AsHemh
should be endorsed by nomination I
single place upon the Democrat
ticket. There should be compile
reputation of the entire selfish al
unsavory lot.
BY this means only can the Dem
cratic party hope to make even
cre1itable showing in the coming cal
paign, or preserve the self respect
its organization. Will il heed t
plain conditions and act accordiugl,
Every friend of real Democracy a
OF tina State will sincerely hope SO.