Evening journal., 1906-07-31
Tuesday, July 81, 1906.
DRIVING HIS FRIENDS FROM HIM.

DRIVING HIS FRIENDS FROM HIM.
THE more people hear and learn apout that
4 remarkable meeting held by J. Edward
Addicks in this city last Saturday, and by him
called meeting of the Union Republican State
Committee the more appalled, are they. There
is probably no other man in the State OF Della
ware who would have dared to perpetrate such
wrong upon an organization of men or even an
individual The rights that other men have, were
absolutely ignored, and the would-be leader OF
the Republicans of Delaware served warrant
upon every man in our state how little his legal
or moral rights would be respected whenever it
might serve either his interests or his hatred to
trample them under foot.
The action of Saturday is considered not 50
much as denial of the rights of those commit
teemen whom he kept in ignorance of the meet
ing and then without notice or hearing expelled,
but, as an assault upon the common and ordinary
rights Of every man. Taking such a step he has
made himself no friends, and even those who now
serve him are made to fear the consequences and
unfair treatment that might overtake them,
should in any way or at any time, they incur his
i'll will. Mr.. Addicks' hatred of and opposition
10. Senator Alice, strong it might be, does not
justify his doing those things which arc not only
unfair but actually illegal, and such action is
tain, like the boomerang, to come back and hit
him.
Up until Saturday, there were throughout the
State, great many men, who more out of sym
pathy than because they thought it wise or proper
to do so, were inclined to follow the leadership
OF Mr. Addicks. Even that sympathy was based
upon their belief in him, as a fair and generous
man, but, it must now appear to them that his
impulses run in totally different direction, and
it is plain to be seen that to follow him now will
do him not the least good, but may do them
selves and others infinite harm.
TheEvening Journal harbors no i'll will toward
John Edward Addicks; indeed, it would be most
gratifying to us to see in Mr. Addicks different
man from what he has been in the years gone bv
when he became a conspicuous figure in the party
by reason of the blunders and mistakes he made.
We had hoped when he agreed to a caucus Of
the Republican members of the legislature. which
resulted in the election of senator that he had
undergone great change and was going to be
in the future not political slave driver, but a
man who by good judgment kindly and consid-
crate treatment of others, and loyalty to the
party, would deserve TO be real leader. We had
hoped that what he said few weeks ago about
party harmony he meant, and that he was sin
oerely and truly in favor of ending the factional
war his aspirations started, and adopting that
safe and fair system Of majority rule With
such an Addicks, we could have no serious diff
ference and easily and completely could we for
get the past, and with pleasure accord and de-
mand for him fair treatment and square deal
But with that fatality, which has ever been his
Nemesis, he makes blunder at a critical moment
To his strength he is his own Delilah He has
always been his worst enemy, and his political
failures are the results Of his own mistakes. But
life is short and men are not wont to follow for.
ever the man who persists in rendering ineffec-
tive the strength and power they would, by theii
support, give him.
In what way, if at all, Mr.. Addicks can re.
cover from the terrific blow he gave himself or
Saturday, we cannot see. He has practically dis
rupted the Union Republican organization. and
like Sampson, has pulled down the pillars. of his
own political household and destroyed himself
IN It's ruins He might better have waited unt
the harmony convention, now but few davs
away when those men throughout the state. both
Unions and Regulars, will meet, and there
promise toforget each others mistakes in the nast
to bury their factionai differences. and pedge
themselves 10 the support and upbuildihg Of the
re-organized Republican party. The refusal o
Af. Addicks to join the hundreds yes thousands