Evening journal., 1902-04-19
FonEvER CONDEMNED

From that spring day in 1895 when
the Legislature OF Delaware adjourned
without date with no senator elected,
Addicks was forever beaten. Barring
accidents. he had set the seal on his
aspirations for all future time. There
he stood with pitiful minority
thwarting the vast majority of his
party. defying the will of the majority
OF the members Of the Legislature,
and remaining deaf to the impOrtuni-
ties Of all the honored leaders Of the
party.
There he stood with a persistence
which in a worthy cause would have
been admirable. while one Of the four
men whom he held by the throat, sent
messages begging that he might
be released from his pledge and
elect United States sena-
tor Such a senator was needed badly
in Washington to give the Republicans
the balance of power, but nothing
availed. and the session closed. leaving
a vacancy to be filed by a Democrat
That was the last nail in his politi-
cal coffin. and no sophistry can wipe
out the blot Of that fateful day. As
we have said his nyielding determine
tion while the storm was beating
around him. would have been admir-
able under certain circumstances. Had
he been battling for great principle,
even with his party arrayed against
him. there would have been some ex-
cuse. Had HE been supporting
"a friend. we should have called it 10y
atty. which might have been forgiven,
but no: he was fighting for himself,
and when he found that his election
was impossible, he determined TO strike
down his own party in revenge.
We say that day sealed his fate;
possibly, however. he might have made
atonement. Had he acknowledged his
error and turned in to make amends
by helping to cement the discordant
elements. he might have regained his
footing and established his right to be
heard in the councils OF the party.
But what did he do? He became more
defiant than ever. He cared not foI
the national administration, but defled
it. He announced repeatedly that hr
would be senator. or nobody should.
Then when he secured what he claimed
TO be a majority of the Republican
vote by the most disgraceful means
he impudently based his claims on
majority rule.
Now majority rule may be pleaded
by any Republican, but not by him
He was the first to defy 1t, and he can
not now invoke it for his benefit. Tn,
people of Delaware who have intelli-
gence and common honesty have de
termined that our eternal disgrael
shall not be consummated. There arr
circumstances under which such a maj
might be sent to the Senate by an az
cident. but he is so well known, hi
record so clear. that to select him now
r deliberately. would be a blot on on
y fair name we should never be able
+ erase. We should say by our condu'
1t that we could fight for time, bl
g could not hold out We should be gi'
e ing an exhibition of a once prou
II people, conquered, and of sure
l. der to selfish incompetent with
T. pocketbook.
Whatever reasons we have had f
at opposition have been augmented by Z
"a every act, and had he deliberately s
10 about to prove his unworthiness
n' could not have been more successf
p We shall not yield. There is enou
- virtue and manhood in Delaware
maintain our honor and dignity. It
al a bigger question than Addicks; It
a. Addicksism.
-o- From all parts OF the State come I
.rd most encouraging reports. Many
Iee his followers are becoming restle