Evening journal., 1905-01-28

say. at the junction OF the Brandywine
and Christiana rivers But II is much
more than II. II Is ne largest city I'm the
State of Delaware, and indeed, practical
~ speaking, it is the only city in the
State Of Delaware, and I'm fact, the only
city located on the Peninsula, which d.
vides the Delaware from the Chesapeake
Bay This Is something Of itself; but what
OF this eighty thousand populationf Where
did these people come from2 They are not
descendants Of the first settlers, who first
planted their feet upon this continent
along the shores Of the Brandywine and
stiana-comparauvely few Of them
are But II we only realize It, the popula-
tlon of this city are oOngregated from
every part of this Peninsula. Every coun-
~ I'm tho State has contributed to its
population and the neighboring counties
of Maryland and those at the north Of
Pennsylvania. Not only is that true, but
think that Il is safe TO say that there
not a town IN the State OF Delaware
ut has its scores Of representatives IN the
ty OF Wilmington. More than that,
lere is not "a village not "a hamlet, not a
tross-roads. scarcely a family or "a farm
this State, but has sent its representa-
i've to this city. Indeed we find them
.ere from Baltimore and Broadkll hum
lreds. from North East, Duck Greek,
.lcnton. Appoquiulmnk, Min Creek, and
rom every dlrcction-all part of the
population of this city. And so IL seems
10 mo that you gentlemen. members Of
.he , onerl Assembly. representing as
,ou do. all the people OF this state, should
lot only feel that you must be most well
come to the city of Wilmington, but that
rou are coming here merely 10 meet and
renew relations of cordiality with your
cousins. your sons, your uncles and your
brothers, perhaps, and that you not only
IRE welcome here. but that you come here
aith a feeling Of proprletorship and feel
ug Of a vested right IN the city of VIII
.nington. And the interests Of the city Of
Wilmington. IL seems 20 me, are most es-
sentially the interests Of all the people
Of the state. because the growth Of this
city means not only the benefit OF Tie
city itself, but the benefit OF every COM
muni.y i'm the State In those communi-
ties outside the city. where your interests
are mainly agricultural, the increase In
the population and In the wealth Of the
city of Wilmington, means an increase Of
capacity in your nearest market. The in
crease in such capacity means not only
an Increase i'm the consumption Of the pro.
ducts which YOU have TO send here but
also an increase IN the prosperity and th'
wealth OF the rural communities Of the
lstate, which means an Increasing capacity
/ for consumption Of those goods and thos'
things which the merchants and business
men of wilmington have 20 send to you
So hat there is community of interest
and this community of interest sho--<'
bring us all 10 realize the condition o
reciprocity which should exist betweel
the Inhabitants of the remotest corner o
the state and the city Of Wilmington.
There has been much said about tn
charter Of the city of Wilmington, ant
about the possibility of new charter.
am not here to discuss this question, be
cause I confess know very little abou
lit. am an agnostic upon the subject an
am here to learn rather than to attemp
to instruct. But 1t does seem to me tina
there is one idea which appeals TO com
mon sense, and which is founded upo
sound reasons. There are some States
our Union, notably / think, Minnesota
Washington. oregon perhaps, and Cal
fornia perhaps, where there are constitu
tional provisions which have provided 10
the enactment by the Legislature OF som
general law classifying the various mu
lnioipaIities in accordance with their poI
lulation. and under which law it is pos
sible for municipalities within thos
States to incorporate themselves and cor
struct and put IN force such charters a
they by a majority vote perhaps, Of the
citizens. may think 10 the best interest q
their own people. other states, as tn
state, have under their constitutions an
their laws. left 20 the Legislature the sol
right to determine upon the sort Of mum
cipal charter by which the cities an
towns OF the State shall transact their al
fairs, and the Legislature alone can detel