The sun., 1901-12-16

this matter few days ago was in no
wise personal, and was no more appli- |
cable 10 Judge Bradford than to other
Delawareans who have essayed to play
the same part as he played on a recent
occasion, it is not difficult TO understand
why ii has been deemed necessary to vol
iinteer him Il gratuitous defence. Public
opinion had already found its verdict
and passed Judgment upon his, to speak
mildly. breach of good taste. The verdict
was that this eminent gentleman had, by
virtue Of an invitation to speak in an
other State for Delaware, found a cow
ards castle from which he could attack
the Union Republicans Of this State in
general, and Mr.. Addicks i'll particular.
The volunteer defence given the judge
by Every Evening confirms this verdict.
1t also suggests Il hind-sight regret, or
doubt. for and about what lie did. Other
wise excuse or defence would have been
unnecessary.
When we wrote what has been deS-
Bradford" we We're not aware of what
he had said ut the .'recent dinner i'll
| Philadelphia" ana candor compels rs to
admit that we have not read even the
new wspaper reports of his speech. All we
know about it, and about how it was
received in this city. has been learned
| from comments made upon it upon the
streets and other places where it has been
talked about. For our present purpose it
| is not necessary for us to acquire more
| intimate knowledge of the speech Our
| view of the facts, appears very much
| like Il confirmation of the old maxim
about the wicked fleeing when there is no
| pursuit. This defence assumes certain
knowledge for both the defendant and
defender. If this assumption is author
izrd and reliable, the statement Of It puts
Judge Bradford and his editorial defend
II in most unenviable position, convicts
both of them of IL remiSsness of duty that
negatives all their pretcnses of high civic
courage ana virtue The defence says:
What citizen of Delaware who has any
knowledge oI affairs political but has
seen for himself the py.avncpS of politi-
cal corruption, Of debauchery of the suf-
frage. that have diSgraced elections i'll
this State for more than dozen years.
When it has reached the Infamous ex-
laturr to betray the people whose honest
Suifrnges elected them. and to sacrifice
their personal and political honor for the
gilt of money and in consideration there
of to give their votes for the election Of
a political opponent to the United States
Senate may it not with truth lie main.
tanned that political corruption in Della
ware has reached its most degrading
depths?
These things are known hy all men
The evidence is found in the official
, records of session of the legislature
Judge Bradford well knew whereof he
was speaking when he held M political
corruption to Scorn and justly denounced
tho unhuman beings who practice it.
These things are said by u newspaper
that presumably has verified its informa
tion on the matter in discussion, and fol
Judge of the United States District
Court. il man learned in the law. and til,
aliu gcd author Of the three or -four page
provisions of the State Constitution rclat
ing to bribery and corruption in politics
: The declaration is that these men know
THESE things are known Of all men
Judge Bradford well knew
q whereof he was speaking &-Th
a things thus known are described in wha
= We have quoted. They come within tn
! scope Of constitutional prohibition 70
- which heavy penalties are provided, am
a in the prosecution of which access 10 IN
+ courts of the State is made easy. An'
. although these evils are said tu have rs
Il listed "for more than Il doz"u years,
! ana the constitutional provisions h.
n which Judge Bradford is alleged 10 hav
70 intended to suppress the corrupt pnliti
y cal practices which hr either knew to u
!. common, or 50 imagined them to be, hit
4 been in force for more than fuur years
d and Yet neither Every Evening, no
4 Judge Bradford has done anything In
I. talk about them. Talk is common an
If cheap They have plenty Of that Civi
# virtue that seeks the publication Of th
n politics OF il State with the courage an
rs power to sacrifice and endure the il
O. jurirS and losses always incident t
H. such good work, is rare virtue, Of whie
4. | th.v huvn littIp if amy
4 The duty Of rcmcdying civic evil rest
H. rlpGn those who know about and of i
@. The methods t. bc adopted are specific
r. and are provided hy the state; in III
ld case were made, il not il whole at lca'
lc in large part by one of the complainant
it. Judge Bradford, and hy the political co
no leagues of the editor Of Every Evenin
lc Contrary to their confessed--allcgcd ii
at tclrst and anxiety III this matter the
"a have done n0thing-nothing but talk; al
RI talk To the diScredit OF their State an
hc to the injury Of its people Either the
lis allegations of knowledge III what "
es have quoted ARE not true, or their a
10 sumption Of civic ylrtue is a fraud,
4 Judge bradford knows BY whom al
y. when and where these corrupt thin,
~ were done, ana he cannot know the fa
pd without knowing these particulars, it o
he curs to us that his name appended to Il