Middletown transcript., 1899-04-08
BErrRR LATE THAN NEVER.

MIDDLEToWN. DEL. APRIL s.1s99-
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
Ex,Congressman Willis has written
another long letter in the''News and Ad-
yertisern addressed to some criticisms
Of The stUnion Republican" towards
the lateness of his turning from Ao-
dicksism. That dig hits the late Con-
gressman. rather deep and his afgu'
ment excusing himself rather accuses
but the lamest part of his otherwise
excellent letter refers to the use of ADJ
dicks Doodle. Mr.. Willis says:
"The Republicans were, however
gradually forging to the front, yet Of
ten in great encouragement. We had
to have money for campaign expenses,
and to meet the abuses of the dlsfran-
chising tax laws, for Democrats were
voting without paying taxes. Inc con-
dition was disgusting, the scheme IN
inuitous. About this time Mr.. Ad-
dicks came and made a bid for the SEN
atorship. The thing was somewhat
sndden and shocking-buth he furnished
help and the party was disposed to IA
yor him. He became very free Win
his money. His liberality astounded
some; but he was reported very rich
and the public had been accustomed to
contemplate the unselfish gifts OF some
of our rich men Of the country to help
the people and we thought one had
come among us who from patriotic
motives would put the party OF Lin
coin on its feet in Delaware and lead
it to swift and complete and permanent
victory"
That was Mr.. Willis mistaken view,
never the views of the Regular Repuo-
lieans. Mr.. Willis shows his error OF
Judgment in his summing up as fol-
lows:
"But how sadly we have been d sap
pointed, instead of victory he has
brought us defeat, instead of union and
harmony, division, instead of honor,
shame and suspicion. Instead OF
strengthening our defenses, he has
broken them down, and removed them;
and whereas we were an aggressive,
reform party, we have been put upon
the defensive, and in many respects are
defenceless. He has invited US to meet
the shameless devices of our adversar-
les with other more defences shame
less still. He has pushed into the arena
of politics a principle of allopathy
(which proposes to cure aserious disease
with fatal one.
"His opportunity was great one.
Circumstances concurred for his worldly
success. Fortune put into his hands
the "golden fleece" He seemed to
have the tonch of Midas; the power of
turning everything into gold. Tie an
cient Midas soon discovered, however,
that he was fool; that there were
other things better than gold; that a
man might have world of gold and
yet starye; and he relented and asked
Jupiter for deliverancs. The modern
Midas has not yet made that discovery.
"When he opened the sluices of his
wealth to revolutioniza Delaware poll.
tics, had be begun by opening a free
library and reading room in Whining
tUu, something noticeable aFfda impress
sive, and invited the young men If the
city to come and drink of Castalian
waters; had he established factories in
Dover, Milford, Georgetown and Laur-
el where the poor might earn a liveli-
hood by honest toll, land it all would
have cost less than it will cost by his
present methods to become U. S. Ssnar
tor). l say, had he done this he would
now have been the cynosure Of all eyes.
The people would have had demonstrar
tion Of his fitness both in heart aud
head to be Senator; and the turn of his
finger would have secured him the
place, and he would not only Rave left
behind him a record of honor and
philanthropy, but would have carried
with him the ineffable satisfaction of
having done a good thing"
But who could reasonably expect the
"ifs'' of factories and free Libraries |
from man whose political entrance
into the State (1S69 was with agents
to bribe and who at the first opportun
ity 1885, defeated the party whose
success he pretented to advance? But |
we believe with i'rother Willis in death |
led repentance. He is welcome to our
fold.
His concluding queries in his open
letter to DR.. Layton are also interest
ing:
"In view of all this I ask you sincere.
ly, DR.. Layton, are you really "sorry"
that refuse longer to follow this mans
leadership? now offer some thoughts
as summing up.
First. The political course of J. S,
Willis heretofore, whether right or
wrong, and his position at the present
time whether consistent or inconsistent,
don't touch the merit of this case.
t'Second. The methods of j. Ed
ward Addicks have been detriment to
the young men and to Republicanism
in Delaware.
sThird. His plea and the plea of his
friends for majority rule is stultifying,
falsely based, and inconclusive.
"Fourth. If popular government
cannot be sustained except by the adop-
lion of his methods, then it cannot be
sustained at all, and our Revolutionary
Fathers made a mistake; for popular t