New-York tribune., 1903-02-16
PLAYING WITH 1DDTCKSISM.

The only redeeming feature of the situation
created by the Regular Republicans of Della
ware is the prospect that Addicks will not ac-
cent their offer to elect one of his followers TO
the Senate 1t is perfectly evident that if they
give one seat into the control of Addicks they
will have surrendered the principle for which
they have professed to stand They have salu
that they were opposed to Addicksism as much
as TO Addicks himself. Moreover, they must
know that In electing an Addicks man they
would be opening the door for the entrance OF
Addicks into the Senate by appointment TO Ill
q vacancy which Addicks would doubtless nave
money enough and influence enough 10 create
The recent weakness of the Regulars when
they seemed to have the situation in their own'
hands is disappointing and dsquieting-
Honest men all over the Union have been
watching this contest and encouraging the Reg
ulars in the belief that they were sincerely and
heroically devoted to saving the honor of thelr
State and their party at any cost 1t must De
confessed that their present course so lar as
It can be understood, does not entirely justify
that belief OF course it is possible that they
knew that any attempt to reform lines of battle
by a combination with Democrats would result
in enough desertions from their own or the
Democratic ranks to give Addicks victory,
Apparently. however, they had it in their power
to secure the election of two Regular Repubh-
can Senators. or at least of one Regular and one
Democratic Senator. The Republican press of
the country generally urged them to do this.
The combination to save Delaware from ravish
ment by this adventurer whose Republicanism
extends no further than the service of his own
ambitions would have been highly honorable
as honorable as the combination of Democrats
and Republicans in behalf of sound finance.
Even If there was any reason why two Sena-
tors could not be elected, it still possible
to have secured the repeal Of the Voters AS
sistance law and deprived Addicks of much of
his power. Every years proongaton of the
struggle with this law in force has meant in
creasing strength for Addicks for more and
more he has been able to spread his money over
the State and demoraliZe the standard Of cti-
zenship. There is danger that at another cleo
ton enough new voters may yield to the tempta-
tion Of his crisp new banknotes from Boston to
give him absolute control Of the legislature.
His corrupt system would be interfered with
by the repeal Of the law which enables him to
keep track of the delivery Of purchased votes.
The Democrats offered to ;oin in the repeal
which the Regulars have said they wanted to
secure, only to find the Regulars suddenly join
If the Regular Republicans are as single
minded as those who hope for the rescue Of
Delaware from its present sad state wish to
believe, they viii show less concern for petty
personal and political considerations and de-
vote themselves heartily to ending Addicksism
instead Of playing with it. 1t has sometimes
been said that all parties in Delaware were
playing with Addcksism and wished to pro-
long the flow of the gas mans money, neither
giving him his purchased goods nor quite de-
priving him of the hope of ultimately obtaining
them by continuing to spend money freely. The
straightforward and earnest demand that the
anti-Addichs men in the legislature should do
their duty, which has just been issued by the
Republican leaders Of Newcastle County. is a
welcome reply TO that cynical suggestion. 1t
should teach those who are hesitating and seem
ingly trifing with the situation, that they can
not afford to neglect the opportunity of ending
Addicks's political pretensions at once and for
ever.