Middletown transcript., 1899-11-25

1
tect promises of more Wholesome wea
ther. An optomist might see even il
our depressing situation, signs of
happier aud better day. The clout
is lifting and already CLEANS of elea
sky appear along the horizon. All the
agitation Of the last ten years is slowlJ
producing its effect and the end mus
certainly be purified atmosphere
The old system svote.buying which
has been in vogue for thirty years and
which bad not appeared enorm us be-
cause the lack Of funds had made it
limited, when carried to its full extent,
at once proclaimed its enormity until
eve good citizen has come to the C m
clusion that it must be uprooted alto
gether. To makecr repulsive it is
only necessary to magnify it: and this
is what has been done ia Delaware.
There are men who in the past wink ed
at bribery and even engaged in ii, who
when they saw the extent it might be
carried to debauch the SUFFRAGE, re.
VOlted, and made up their minds to
dght it in any party not excepting their
own. "
A few days since these words came
from the lips of an old Democratic
war-hcrse; "I have stopped using
money at elections, although | bought
votes for years. The extent to which
it has been carried for the last few
years has convinced me Of the hijeous.
ness of the whole system. When the
new Constitution went into effect |
said l will not buy ano her vote, and l |
have kept my word; and a great many
men are feeling the same way.n Wei
are inclined to think he is right and |
that our best citizens regardless of |
party are determined to help stamp out |
an evil, even though in certain instan-
ces they themselves formerly engaged |
in it.
Our new Constitution is a long stride
IN advance, and lis efforts towards
purifying the ballot, should meet with
will meet with the SUPP
port of every good citizen. It is not
sufficient to sueer az the formation of
The Constitutional Convention. The
document they promulgated is our fun
1amental law, and Furthermore, it as a
whole is sound and honest. Republi-
ian, Democrat and Union Republican,
must support it, because it is right,
ind we are sure the best men of all
hese parties have resolved to do SO.
True there are many depressing
igns, but out of each piece of fraud or
rickery grew signs that are fraught
vi b comfort. When three Democrats
'oted for so called Republican, who ,
lad endeaVored to win q seat in the :
'enate by every questionable method.
eople stood aghast. But the storm of r
that arose from all over the
tate was evidence of the sterling
ualities of onr people. There are \
% actively engaged iu manipulations n
election machinery in defiance of .
be law. When they are apprehended q
hey may be discharged on technicali- y
les but we should remember neverthe- n
IS for our comfort that officers of the
wv are endeavoring to bring them to n
lstice; the great jury of the public D
pinion condemns them, whether the So
ourt does or not. L
"All the people cannot oe fooled all n
le time,o neither can fraud, incompe.
'ncy and political nastines fiaunt
lemselves unrebuked forever. Each Il
IAN has political duty to perform in
le sphere of politics. He may decide n,
fight within the ranks of his own &C
arty, but ,vertheless it is conduct m
lat cannot be deter mined for him BY Gu
~ leader, it is his own personal mat e
II. Thousands Of our citizens accept va
lis responsibility and will act indie % @
and no matter what their D, D.
lrty affiliations may be, will refuse to IN
We their support to either men or br
'l1cieS they deem to be wrong. an