The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-31
COERCION OF THE VOTERS
Delaware's Democratic Nominee
Speaks Against Corruption.
An Appeal to the People to Thvart
Evil Schemes Against Suffrage.
The States Honor sienaced-Hr;b-
cry "a Crime-A DemoraIizing Infiu-
cnce That Threatens the Republic.

| DOVER, Del, Oct. 31-The Democrats
of Delaware have had every man On the
firing line, and from one end of the State
to the other mass meetings are in prog
ress.
Peter J. Ford, the Democratic nominee
for Governor. held meeting at Sycamore
yesterday afternoon. and attended a big
| rally at Hazletville at night.
At Hazletville. which is in Kent county,
farmers drove miles 10 attend the meet
ing, and the audience was enthusiastic.
The Opera House at Delaware City, New
Castle county. was crowded last night.
A B. Osborne OF Erie county. Pa. cap
tured the audience with telling address.
In his speech at Sycamore Mr.. Ford said
in part:
1T is essential that the expression Of
the popular viii should be free and IN
trammeled. No man can afford to sell his
vote or to allow himself to be Influenced
by Interior motives. When he does so he
tramples upon his own manhood. he pros
titutes his citizenship. and tramples upon
the dearest Political right that an indi-
vidIal can ever hope to possess
There can be 40 adequate consideration
for the absolute surrender that one makes
when he gives over this right to another
man who has all his life prided himself
upon his American citizenship has stood
cut before his fellows in the fullness of
personal independence and has enjoyst as
he deserved the respect and confidence of
his neighbors falls in abject wretchednsss
when he transfers to another the elective
franchise which came to him as one of the
priceless jewels of his inheritance No
more vicious enemy of the nation can be
found anywhere in the land than the man
who by unfair means endeavors to de-
bauch or coerce the voter.
The great curse Of politics in this day
is the advantage taken by designing men
Of the weakness or misfortune OF their
fellows. And I can conceive of no greater
crime than the invasion of our little State
by the briber and corruptionist, who By
unholy methods attempts to thwart our
humble people in their purpose to aid by
their votes in preserving the good name
of our little Commonwealth
IF our elections are to be controlled b.
those who use their demoraiizing influence
over others in this way to turn them from !
he well-defined path of duty, then indeed |
nay we trembie with fear for the future t
1f cur people. The result of our elections /
n that event will not be for the general !
Welfare, but for the sole benefit of a few |
speaking at Delaware City Mr. Osborne /
ienied that the. present Republican party i
s the party OF Lincoln. He said:
1.-THE Republican party is dead. It was
'orn bringing freedom to slaves and it I
lied when il sought to make subjects of /
rec men. The great President who led |
he black man to liberty by paths dark
With the shadows of battle cannot be the
ounder OF party which now seeks to lead !
he brother in brown to place as a sub |
ect by ways red with the stain of war.
The silent general who in the days Of civ
strife marshaled the far-1ung battle line
hat the flag it bore might wave above
and without slave would not now be one |
t these who seeks to make the thunder
f our cannon tell Of Government with
ut the consent OF tha governed.
And Fremont. the pathfinder, the first
0 seek way to make men free. he would |
OF now seek way to make men slaves.
10. my Republican friends, Lincoln made ]
our party stand for human rights Grant |