Evening journal., 1900-11-22
Advance Of Political TOrrup-
tiOn From Evil to Power
In a Letter 10 Representative Clark
lie Says lie Would DeplOre
AddickS' Election

says:
The Hon. Theodore f. Clark member of
the House OF Representatives of the
General Assembly OF the State OF Del
aware. Delaware City. Delaware.
My Dear Sir: 10 was my intention. as
said to you the other day. 90 join with my
fellow Republicans of Red Lion hundred
in celebrating the recent riumphs of Re-
publcnnism in the nation and the state:
bat owing to ana engagement In Washing
tom set for tomorrow ] viii hc unable to
reach Delaware City ia time for the cclc-
hration. On my return from New York.
Maryland and New Jersey. where ] spent
the end of the campaign arguing for the
progressive Repuhicanism represented
by Mckinley and Roosevelt. / was es-
pecially rejoiced 10 hear of your success
II is fitting recognition OF your services
to the state.
As we rejoice in the union Of good men
and good principles in the nation, ought
we not TO strive for the same happy COM
junction here 40 homcY To you and your
fellow members in the General Assembly
the people of Delaware look to- see TO it
that no evil principle shall he adopted as
party policy, or that no man untitled
for public honors shall hc called 10 a posi-
tion of power. The responsible duty of
eecting two United States senator's Is
upon the Delaware legislators and il is
the expectation of the country that the
party in the nation shall not be weakened
/ by any failure 20 discharge their duty in
| this regard by the Delaware Legislators
! The "Addicks question" is now much in
] fl Is It.. flItf.
of the day. bnt the candidate OF decade.
Republicanism in the nation led by Me
! llmley aud Bepuhlicanism in the State
/ led by Addicks suggests TO me the
ShaEespearean picture OF Hyperion and
Satyr. 1t is admitted ON an sides that
! the election of Mr.. Addicks 10 the United
| states Senate would make the "judicious
grieve.' but some good men. tired of the
stress OF combat, now seem ready 90
cease their opposition and accept him as
a necessary evil But il our opposition 10
! Addicks is founded ON principle. then
neither a handful of silver nor % 'rib-
bon TO stick I'm our coats. nor any other
selfish motive, ought to weaken our bat
tie for public good.
! understand that corruption in politics
has existed in democracies from the days
of Demosthenes down. To this expert
ence Delaware was not stranger when,
in 1889, Addicks first 'heamed upon our
sight" to be more than "a moments orna-
ment." But / submit that prior to 1855
political corruption in Delaware was in
cidental 20 party existence. Mr.. Addicks
has advanced political corruption from It's
position of an incidental evil TO a factor
or controlling power in party policy.
man is a visionary who expects party
government TO be entirely free from cor
I ruption but he is a dangerous foe TO the
: republic who would supinely see our lib
critics sold TO the highest bidder.
Do we want Addicks TO play the part OF
: a Walpole IN Delawarei Is the condition
z of American politics such that even il
this small part of the republic we should
, allow this man TO build political power on
the price Of men? England. happily, ha,
turned away from her system of rottei
i, boroughs Why should Delaware nov
/, fan into this unhappy condition. Ny ain
! is to oppose the wholesale corruption O
the Delaware electorate. ! have M
/. quarrel with Mr. Addicks personally. Blu
because his election 10 the senate now
as he demands it, would give a great i'm
petus 20 political corruption / would de
plore his election There are circum
stances under which l would acQuiesc
in his election. If we could subOrdinat
Addicks to the party and make Delawar
n Repuhlicanism dominant we might toler
ate. though we could not approve Ad
dicks: but if Addicks is dominant an
l. Delaware Republicanism is subordinate
10 to his dictation and bossism then his pc
y. litical advancement cannot be tolerate,
J. much less approved Again Delawar
70 being a part Of this nation, / would nc
T. quicsce in his election, if the interests q
P the whole nation would be endangere
10 by any other course. But such a cond
r. tion does not exist
KS The assured Republican majority in Il
I'd incoming senate gives our people an IN
m fettered opportunity to give local trea
is mcnt to this local evil. Delaware is vel
ne proud Of her first places in history. 81
,h is proud that il was Rodney who roc
from Dover 10 Philadelphia 70 sign Il
Declaration. She is proud that she WI
= the first 20 ratify our Federal Constit
tion. May she not have the inglorio
ei distinction OF being the first Of the Anne
!" lean States TO deliberately sell the hig
est of her honors.
y" I rejoice in personal acquaintance wi
you and many Of your associates. I 7
ioice to know many Of those who follC
the fortunes Of Mr. Addicks. I am IA
10 believe that they win no longer adhe
ed to the ru.nous program of "Addicks
ig- nobody" Our friends in the Union II
publican party have now a better a
wider conception of their obligation a
duty to the national party. They v
not force us TO start the new cent?
OF wounded in our civic pride. Let us
III strong from the head own. Let us Sc
to Washington two staunch Republica
fitting compeers Of Mckinley and Roo
velt Let as sustain the traditions Of
per Bayards. OF Clayton and OF Gray. Il re
:. with the Delaware legislators whet