Evening journal., 1898-12-07
A MoRp To TIIE coNrRrrE


us Of Advocating ind!scIimGnate vote
buying ii makes a statement which we
re1ute No newspaper in Delaware has
been more uncomproInising in its con-
demnatiun Of Addicls and Addicksism
and Of Higgins and Hrgginsism. Bu,
we say now, as we have said before.
thst If the biiber is not driven out OF
the state by the enforcement OF con
ssftutlonai provisions and statutes
made in THAT behalf, 1t is certain THAI
Addicksisn must dominate the poltti-
cal affairs OF Delaware unless the
Democratic party gols into the field
and meets it dollar for dollar. We
challenge a contradiction Of this state
ment. Facts cannot be winlzed away.
We said In our EDITORIAL on the Dover
Delawarean's grasuitous lscture that
ITO regain those who are selling them
selves, il is necessary 10 break up
bribery at elections, OF elise, II it is to
continue. meet the Regular Repub.a-
cans and the Union Republicans dollar
for dollar at the registration and e,ec-
ton VenAlity listens 10 MO argument
which is not backed by money, and un-
less the laws are sufficient to check the
bribe- giver THE traffickines with the
bribe-talSer must continue, and It be-
comEs merely matter Of financial
ablllty between the parties"
Does the edgtor Of the Dover Della
whrean deny this? Does any sane man
deny It? Can the edltor Of the Dover
Delhmareau suggest any alternative?
Would he try moral suasion? For
eight years the venality Of Delaware
VOTERS has been d,plored by the prees
by the pulpit and by the Democratic
parity. Appeals have been made to the
manhood OF Delaware and the shame
tuln.ss OF The practice OF vote-buying
and vote-seigsng has been held up TO
public view The result HAS been that
the number Of voters who sell them
seLv's has Increased four-fold.
Would he try threats? That expe-
dAent has had NO earthly effect upon
such pernHcious financial transactions.
Our state conventions have made dec
laraHons, which our county conven-
tions have echoed. Our attorney-gen-
eral has offered his rewards and PRINT
ed matter calcuated to fr6ehten the
bribe-givers and the bribe-thkers haa
been circulated, with the result that one
obscure negro preacher has been ar
rested. tried and convicted, and he is
NOW out on bail and his case carried
up to the Supreme Court, the system
OF debaucherb. doubt.ess. furnishing
him his lawyers. While his case fig
ures in an appellate court thousands OF
men who have been guilty OF worse
practices stalk the static scathless.
Wou0d he try weanang from this sys-
tenn Of corruption what some choose to
cali "the respectable element OF the
Republican party? The last election
was foreible demonstration OF the
fact that that el~ment is standing
shoulder to shoulder with Addiclssm
and sharing in the spoils so dearly and
Systematically bought.
Then what recourse has the Demo-
tic parity either than the law, and
that falling. the weapon which the Reg
ulhr Republicans have ueed to force
their way into power and which they
propose 10 use to defend the positions
which they have gained?
Let the editor Of the d Cawarean
suggest something which is nice, clean
effective and inofensive to his rejuve-
mated noelugLs and wsak stomach and
which recommends Itself to a head
which is fun OF remorse and contrtion
lie says that when one reviews the
hist1ry Of Democratic supremacy IN
De,Rwars the mind naturally divides II
inLo the usual three periods so be-
loved by these who delight to classify
and arrangethes sequenceof politcaland
h1eEorical events" And then h. goes
off on historical ramb.e which begins
with the landing Of Columbus and ends
nlomhere- If We were permitted u
mark those thres periods their Sc
quence would be as follows: When the
Dover Deiawarean led the
DomOcrstic party Of Delaware;
when it led the Republican party
IN am aesaue on the Democratic party
OF DeEkw1re. assisting in the election
of Regular General Assembly and oi
Hon. Anchcny Higgins TO the UNITED
a&atsa Seuste; and when il returned L.
khe fold to play an unwilling secon-
fd1ie to tbs triumphant strains Of
Denpcra4ie march composed. by th'
D9Ter Index. To a man up the tree
Il looks as enough The Dllawarean i
iaBIng the ground for an assumption
~ the leadership of the Kent count,
ofehestra.
Whv matters pertaining to st. Al