Middletown transcript., 1900-02-24
nonoRAsLE POLITICS REcEivEs
mEAsTED CONTEMPLATION.

"a
mERsTED CONTEMPLATION
HThe revelations made in the
Senate investigation into the
election OF Senator Clark, OF
Montana. are furnishing the text
for d good many homilies on
corruption in American politics.
The open purchase of q Senator
ship iii Montana, as the evidence
seems to prove, deserves the
severest censure. No such nn-
disguised, hagrant instance of
buying an office has probably
ever been known in this country
before.
"But disgraceful as the Mon
tana scandal is it cannot be taken
as an indication Of universal cor
ruption in the politics of this
country. There are evidences
fully as encouraging as that is
discouraging, and one of the
most significant is furnished by
Delaware. The situation in that
State is a matter Of general
knowledge. In the election Of
1894 the Republicans obtained a
majority in the Legislature and
the election of a Republican to
succeed Senator Higgins was
confidently expected. Mr.. J.
Edward Addicks then appeared
on the scene and announced that
it would be "4ddicks or nobody"
The candidacy of Mr.. Addicks
did not commend itself to the
great majority of the Republi-
cans and they refused to support
him and so lost q United States
Senatorship at critical time.
The same scene was repeated in
1897. The Republicans again
refused to be responsible for
Mr.. Addicks' election and lost
another seat in the United States
Senate.
"Not enough credit has been
given to the sturdy integrity Of
the Delaware Republicans in this
matter. Mr.. Addicks is a rich
man, not so rich as Mr.. Clark,
of Montana, but public report
credits him with a willingness to
deal generously by those who
work for his political advance
ment. The Republican party in
Delaware is poor, having for a
generation been shut out of Office
by an unjust election law, but
Notwithstanding its poverty it
has rigidly refused to yield to
the Establishments of Mr.. Ad-
dicks. There is much corruption
in American politics. No one
can deny its prevalence and state
the truth. The Montana scandal
is a humiliating proof of it.
But on the other hand there are
evidences of a growing political
honestyand devotion to principle.
And of the latter the Delaware
Republicans have given one Of
the most welcome proofs. -.
Philadelphia Press, Feb. 21st.
TThe "Press is right-not
enough credit has been given
Delaware Republicans who have
opposed Clarkism as seen in
Montana and Addicksism as ex-
perienced in Delaware. It would
have been SO easy to have divided
spoils with Addicks- only princi-
pie forbade it. "You have ex-
perienced rule through Demo
cratic election laws by the Dick
eys, and is it worse than Ad-
dicksism ?" has caused many an
honest Republican to chose what
he has been told is the lesser of
two evils-Addicksism receiving
unintentional strength thereby
and the straightforward course
adopted by "the sturdy integrity
OF the Delaware Republicans I"
being made more ruggid. How
refreshing, therefore, the COM
mendation of an able Republi-
can journal like the "Press.
In its small sphere The TRAN
SCRIPT has been the object of
not a few kicks. Advertising
contracts placed with the paper
for definite periods by agents
not knowing the prejudice of
their principals have been can
celled; mugwumps calling them
selves Republicans, some of them |
oAce holders and others seeking
Office, have withdrawn patronage
and be sure
We have them on the list,
And we're sure they won't be missed,
when the time comes to expose
their hypocracy. And to those
classes we add the opposition Of |
the Addicks Democrats whose
diabolical politics suggests the
quick and sure remedies of GER
tain Western sections when their |
politics becomes too corrupt. |
Think Of men selling out their
party and their State-and sug-
gest . punishment too swift or
too severe men seeking places
Of honor and trust that they may
betray. AL these things must
Be met by the Delaware Republi-
ANS land not a few Delaware