The sun., 1900-11-28
Wednesday, November 27, 1900.
CONSCIENCE IN POLITICS.

from the Public Ledger with some doubt
as to what it means in that journals
vocabulary. The Ledger has been one of
abe apparently constituencies detractors
Of the Union Republicans of Delaware,
in general and Mr.. ]. Edward Addicks
! in particular. 1t is with some surprise,
therefore, that we find it discussing such
topics.
The subject matter of its article under
this caption had no direct connection
with what we have to say. 1t was pure
V sent mental. We will try to be prac-
~1;cal Sentiment is a good thing, Il
,cessary part of all high ideality; but
when so refined as to be inapplicablc to
he ordinary and every day interests of
the people, when it rejects facts for he
tion and hinders the good in the interest
of the bad il becomes very poor stuff
virtue but vice. We are inclined to
the opinion that the Ledger has mis-
taken such sentiment for conscience
in politics. This opinion is based upon
the fact OF the lIadger's defense of Dela-
wares corrupt Democratic party aud iss
ally the so-callcd Regular Republican
party, in the effort to defeat the Union
Republican party Of this State ana
prevent the election Of Mr.. Aadicks to
the United States Senate.
In the same issue from which we bor-
row the caption of this article, we recall
that there was printed an article on the
political situation in this State, in which
the Ledger defended its position by the
statement that it is well informed as to
the situation here. Also further state
ment that the "Regulars" had made no
bargain with the Democrats looking to
--rthc defeat of the election of two Repub-
lican United States Senators. We doubt
the first statement and accept the last
one with positive reservations. It is an
attempt to dodge the question at issue.
That particular kind Of Il bargain may
not have been made. 1t is true, however,
Nthat the "Reguars" Of whom, and for
whom the Ledger speaks, did enter into
the conspiracy formed between the Re
publican boilers of 1886 and the Demo
Gratis, to prevent the election Of the Re
publican ticket nominated in that year
In Kent county the offer was made by
the "Regulars'' to the Democratic county
committee for the purpose Of defeating
the election Of Republican General AS
Il sembly. 1t is beyond dispute that The
Regulars" combined with the Demo
Gratis - r.,vcnt Republican contr, 81
4. va t4.,,,a,. iohai "onvrhtioh u
accord with the vote Of rplc
Democrats charge the Regulars will
being direct party to thn outrageous
steal by which the will of the people o
this State in the election of Rcpubli
can legislature in 1896 was defeat
ed. 1t is also true that the frs
so-called Regular" Republican tick
ct nominated in this State wa
terminated for the express purpose o
defeating the election of Republican
-.aState Government. 1t is also true tina
\ in the election of 1898, the Regulars
who were nominated and elected to tn
State Assembly were SO nominated an
elected with the agreement and under
standing that they We're to be voted fo
and elected MS Republicans without re
gard to factional differences, and wer
to act together in the Assembly abidin
by the decision of the majority. In tina
Assembly the Union Republicans wer
in the majority in the Republican dclt
CATION, but despite the ante electio
agreement the Regulars" refused t
vote for the majority nominee ia
United States Senator The same agree
mcnt was made in the primaries prepare
tory to the recent election.
Now the point we make in ill thi
- is that If the Ledger is well informed
about the political situation here
knew, knows, all these things. 1t know
moro. 1t knows that the Republicans
this State have for Il generation bee
enduring political wrongs, such rs /
people ought to be expected to cndum
and against which any kind of oppositio
was excusable. II must also know.
substantiste its claim to being we'll il
formed, that Union Republicans Wei
contending within the law ana III accol
with political custom which had h
come the law of political procedure
II this State. In this controversy Tie
NJ was but one side, and that the Uni,
Republican side, that made any reaso
s'' appeal to a good conscience. III
Republicans were then, and u
.ighting against injustice and o
IN, of the very worst kind, in po
They were and are contending fl
principle in politics which is Ii
>--.y basic IN the structure of The II