The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-03-02
THE STATE FIRST.

From the Sun.
An old-fashioned. statement of mans
4 duty and the order of its performance
was like this First to his God, and
next to his country"
| There is a thrilling, melodious ring
about that statement that attests its
truth, and which attracts and thrill: the
citizen who cherishes high ideals of pub
lie obligations. We commend it to tho
thoughtful consideration of the members
of the legislature now in session at
Dover.
The discussion of the dominant politi-
cal issue in this State-the election of
United States Senators-has developed
some curious IDEAS of public duty. For
instance, on the political side we have
had it suggested that there should be
jointure of interests between Repub;-
cans and Democrats for the defeat of the
| popular will demanding the election of
| two Republican United States Senators.
| Again we have had it suggested that
(, public honor and interest demand the de-.
| feat Of the approved popular candidate
| for United States Senator. Again it
| has been said that it would be better to
| have the State without representation
/ in the United States Senate than to
| have it represented by the approved pop
| ular candidate. Again it has been sug-
| gestcd that members of the Legislature
| cannot afford to vote for the approved
popular candidate for United States Sena-
tor, because of the criticism of his neigh
bors, and the taunts and jeers that would
be visited upon his family and children
| Again members Of the legislature have
been threatened with social and business
prosecutions if they voted for the APPROX
ed popular candidate FOR United States
| Senator. Again we have heard it sug
| gested that members of the legislature
| could not afford to vote for the approved
| popular candidate for United States
Senator. because it has been said that
some of this candidates friends had
voted against the member Of the legis-
lature and attempted to defeat his cleo
ton. Then we have it again suggested
that this approved popular candidate
must not be elected because such cleo
ton would endanger certain private in
terests--would exclude some aspirants
for public honors, and would effect IL Q
value of private Investments.
/ We think we have covered in this cita-
ton all the alleged reasons why the
Republican members Of the legislature
should not meet in Il general caucus, Sc
lcct two candidates approved by the
majority vote of that caucus and elect
them to the United States Senate. There
is not one of these reasons which, when
tried by the rule we have quoted rs
introductory 10 this article, will stand the
test. They all put the minor interest
ahead of the major interest-put in
dividuals with their petty interests and
private reveEgcs first, and God and
country last.
What is there that is commendable
in the Rcpublicanism of men who would
force such an alternative as that of a
joint election of a Republican and Demo-
cratic Senator from this State? 1t is
understandable how Democratic minor
ity could be Il party to such bargain,
but it is not so with a Republican ma
iority. The Republican who believes in
his party. who believes that its suprem-
scy in State and National councils is nee.
essary to the general welfare, cannot
reasonably surrender the power of the
majority to a minority when the proper
course of that majority has been not
only determined but plainly directed.
Either such mans Republicanism is
fraud, or he denies his own sense Of
right in the surrender to the minority.
A genuine Republican can do no such
thing. A genuine American can do no
such thing as surrender the power of a
legislative majority to a minority. To do
that would be to violate every principle
of the American governmental polite
the soul of the American governmental
idea is the rule of the people determined
by popular vote. In what way is the
honor of this State involved in the cleo
ton of Mr.. Ad,licks to the Senate? The
statement is fiction. The attempt tc
smirch and stain Mr.. Addicks' reputa-
ton, to discredit him among the people
of this State and of the United States,
is Islander Of the mcanest variety. The
men who make that attempt know that
Mr.. Addcks is in every way as capable,
as worthy as a citizen aud party man,
as any candidate possible OF election,
under any circumstances, i'll this State.
The insinuation that he would in any
way be discrcdt to the State is lie
intended to deceive the people and dis
credit and dishonor the State. In ad-
dition to his personal fitness for the Sen
atorship, Mr.. Addicks has the approval
of the people. In four State elections
have the people voted for his election
to the Senate, and in three Of these
elections the State has been discredited,
dishonored and injured by his defeat.
| His first defeat left the State without its
| full representation in the Senate. His
| second defeat caused the sending to the