Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-03-20
How to Stamp out the EVIL.

How to Stamp Out the EVIL.
The Sussex Republican Of Georgetown
believes that the true solution of the
question how to stamp out political
corruption and the debauchery of
voters in this State sis the education
and elevation of our citizens to a
higher standard of political morals.
We wish we could believe this, but we
cannot. The work of education has
been in progress for years, and every
reputable newspaper has urgently
preached the sound doctrine of pure
suffrage and honest politics. Our late
Constitutional Convention, in response |
to the public sentiment created by this
campaign of education, inserted strin-
gent provisions in the fundamental
law for the punishment Of bribery and
corruption in connection wish our cleo
tions, but the miserable evil continued,
and to greater extent than before.
In the opinion of the Sussex Repub-
lican, this excellent law apparently has
not the support of public sentiment
and is dead letter. Indeed, it looks
SO. Then, tho problem is how to make
it living, potent force, instead of
dead letter. There is only one way,
ind that is to enforce it. The Sussex
Republican evidently inclines to this
opinion, for it proceeds to say:
If better political standard is i'm
possible or 50 far distant as to be i'm
probable, the only hope is to trust to
the law and its enforcement. We have
a very able, active and efficient attor-
ney general and deputy, who we believe
might be able to secure some result, if
full and ample preparation be made.
1t is not hard to learn who are the
purchasable voters and who are the
buyers on any election ground, and the
rest should be easy. We sincerely hope
that all these good resolutions will
have some effect and men of character,
recognizing the danger, will help stamp
it out.
This should be the. watchword
''Stamp it OUT But how?
There is only one way, and that i:
for the people who are opposed to suf
lfrage corruption to act. How would i
do for those citizens who are sincerel.
and earnestly opposed 10 corruption o
the suffrage In any form, and on tn
days of registration and election a
we'll as other days, to enter into an or
,ganization for the express purpose Q
making it dangerous for any one to al
tempt to corrupt voter during tn
coming campaign.
Such an organization should be CON
posed of determined men, and men {
all shades of political opinion. The
should resolve to know no man or n
party in their work, but to resolutel
prosecute every case of suffrage CO
ruption that may come to their know
edge.
1t would also be necessary for sue
an organization to raise fund for I'll
employment of trusty agents to keC
watch on registrations and election
for the purpose of detecting all instanc
of the corrupt use of money and obtai
ing the evidence necessary to CO
viction. For without work of tn
character the organization would
of no avail.
1t is, unfortunately, fact th
since the drastic provisions of our n,
Constitution with reference to sutfra
corruption became operative, only Q
conviction has been secured, that
an humble negro preacher whose poll
cal friends made a great show of 81
mi porting him until tho election v
over, after which they abandoned h
to his Imprisonment. His convict
was just, however, and no doubt it
some effect But would it not hi