The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-16
POLITICAL HISTORY OF della
WARE

The Baltimore American of Tuesdays
issue contained Il very interesting sketch
of the public men who sat as Senators in
the United States Senate from Delaware
for the last half of century. The ar
tcle commences: Alas! poor Delaware.
Her hero worshippers are without an idol
upon whom to lavish her political honors.
Without hero, Delaware's politics is
chaotic. Caesar Rodney, sguer of the
Declaration of Independence. soldier pa
triot and jurist was the first hero of the
State. Contemporary with him was
James Ashton Bayard, the first who aid
ed Rodney in moulding into form the
rough commonwealth which the latter
had hewn out in the stirring and uncer-
tain times which followed the Revolu-
tionary war. This Bayard was the Della
ware progcnitor of those Bayards who
gave lustrc to the State in the national
halls of Congress and in the courts of
Europe
James Ashton Rayard succeeded his
father in the United States Senate. HIS
brother, Richard Henry Bayard. during
the same period represented this State in
the Senate James Ashton Rayard. the
second. gave way in the Senate to Thom-
as +. Bayard, who until his death. only
Il few years ago, was the hero of Dca-
ware. With his death the Bayard family
name became extinct in Delaware. The
youngest son, IA lawyer, having moved to
New York. And there was yet another
family. the Saulsbury-which produced
their Willard. Gore and Eli-to
receive Delawares homage Willard and
II .I,;1,
Gore was Governor Of the State. They
regned in lower Delaware, while the
Bayard family held sway in the upper
section. For n generation the two fam
lilies divided all of the political honors of
the State among themselves.
The salisbury family's reign ended
with Eli. but not until fight which re-
suited in the overthrow of the Saulsburys.
James A. Wolcott led the Democratic
forces in the memorable contest which 50
thoroughly disrupted the Democratic par
ty in the State. that it has never, in thc
lower counties recovered its former pres
tigp.
Hon. George Gray was the lrgatee of
the Bayards MS the dominating influence
in Democratic politics in the northern
section of the State. He succeeded Mr.
Eayard in the Senate. Anthony Higgins
became the Republican leader In the
State when his party came into power,
and he. not Mr. Wolcott. succeeded Eli
Salisbury in the Senate. For two years
Delaware had only one Senator. Then
the Democrats captured the Legislature.
Colonel Kenny was elected Senator. The
Republicans got together and two years
ago again captured the Legislature. Adj
dicks having loomcd up as n Senatorial
aspirant was sufficiently strong to pre-
vent anybody from being elected al
though he could not be elected himself.
Mr.. Addicks secmed'to devine this hero
worship that Delaware laviSbes upon her
favorites, and he seemed to appreciate the
fact that he stock of heroes had played
out. This was in 1889. There is one thing
in Mr.. Addicks career that commands
attention and that is his determination,
Notwithstanding the reverscs and re-
pulses which he has encountered. and
which would have made many a man quit
his apparent will-'o-wisp chase, he has
continued the fight and he is just as much
in the political fray in Delaware to-day
as he was foar and again two years ago.
There is no doubt whatever, but that the
State will he Republican il the two war
ring factions can get together on one
ticket