Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-03-27
The Ola system and the New.

The Old system and the New.
We are pleased to print, on the last
page Of this issue, u letter from an
"Old line Democrat a Democrat, as
he saws, Of forty years standing Civ
ing his views upon what he thinks
should be the policy of the Democratic
party in the coming campaign.
Wo hold, and we think that the ma
jority of our Democratic readers will |
agree with us, that his arguments are
sound and his conclusions reasonably
practical. Some may not agree with
HIM Others, we opins, will maintain
that his position is impregnable.
But there is ono thing to which he
alludes, and to which We think there
will DO no dissent. And that is that
in former days, when the Democratic
party did not go into primary cam
raign committed to tho interest of any
one man for this Office, or for any
other man for the other Office, it al
ways had much clearer way when it
came to make its campaign before the
people. OF course, when the issue was
whether man like the late Hon.
Thomas +. Bayard was to he reelected
to the United States Senate, there was
no question, But, ordinarily, when it
came to the nomination of u man for
governor, or for the election of a
Legislature which should he charged
with the duty of electing United
States Senator, there were no personal
issues in the primary campaigns, The
only question in the contests for dele
| gates to the State conventions, or for
| the nomination of candidates for the
Legislature, was whether they were
| good and capable men, who could he
depended upon, after their election, To
nominate the soundcst Democratic
candidates in tho convention, or in the
Legislature to vote for the man for
Senator who would best represent the
State and maintain the traditionssof
the larty.
| Now all this is changed The party
primaries for the election Of delegates
to State convention are dominated
by the issue of whether candidates
representing this man, or that man, for
the chief nomination, shall be elected
The primaries for the nomination OF
candidates for the Legislature are domi-
mated by tho issue Of whether candi
dates in favor of this man or that man
for United States Senator shall he
nominated. Tho interests of the people,
or of the party, are entirely eliminated.
And as u result Of this kind of per.
sonal primary politics, the Democratic
party OF Delaware has gradually de
scendod from the position Of the domi
, nant party, commanding the respect
} and confidence Of the majority Of this
! voters, to the position of the minority
!, and defeated PARTY.
1t is now aqucstion with Democratic
> voters: Does this kind of primar,
politics pay2 Will it not he better t,
: get back to old-tim policies an,
: principles? With them we usNd to win
Since abandoning them we have beer
: defeated election after election. Ha,
] we not better repudiate the policy o
committing the fortunes OF the party b
: this man or that man, and endeavor t
nominate delegates to our convention
a and candidates for the Legislature VIII
a will not be personal candidates, hu
a representatives of the party, free t
decide, after their election, what the
may best do to subserye tho interes,
n Of the party and the interests OF th
d people'
"a The modern plan has proved to be
& failure, And it threatens to- resu
!. in another, and an ignominous defea
a if the personal interests that ha,
n proved paramount in recent campaign
= arc to dominate the Democratic .
"a ganization in the campaign of tn
f. year Is it not time to call halt an
"a make a change?