Evening journal., 1907-11-13
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
TWENTY.EIeHTH ARTIcLE.
By Washington Hastings

The denomination OF General Grant by the Repubi
cans in 1872 very easily accomplished. In fact il
which accomplished themaelyes-few though they be
rhe Republican party was woll-nigh unanimous in it's
preference for hm' absolutely with the exception Of
the very few NAL contents-very nbld and eminent men
indeed bud l-contents nevertheless-vho opposed him.
and their followers the ranks who numerically,
n task as bs nomination as Mr. Greele, who was The
nominee those distinguished but dsanocted Repub
Noans at convention which they pleased 10 term
that Of the Liberal Republican Party, at Cincinnati
which nomination afterwards endorsed hy portion
Of the Democratic party the remainder the straight out
Democrats putting up Charles oconnor Greeley there-
FORE Grants only real and important opponent OF
course Grant was again uumphanty elected. Eclipse
first, the rest nowlierei"
cannot recall anything OF special noteworthy im
portance ia this state during that campaign The Re-
pubicans 10 voted for Grant with the exception
anxious 90 become known men Of influence, who voted
for Greeley and thus found their opportunity
OConner. but Grant carried the state No Horace
Greeley as a Democratic candidates for President
for Delaware Democrats II they knew themselves and
they thought they did! They acted as they did at any
rate.
been since the days OF the old Whg party, and
nonsense about H. and the Democrats confidently hoped
and expected that Il always would be- and with pretty
good reason Tor tat nope ana expectation msh possibly
have been realized but for the fact that Eli salisbury
baked In 1883 in Kent and backed the wagon
into the ditch from which however he managed to pull
t out and temporarily repair the damage. But he could
manage the team, which eventually got away from
him and ran or away down into Sussex county scatter
ing the load all along the smashing the machine
among the number and perhaps the most dangerously
wounded OF all an of which, been said before in
this story resulted ia the election OF majority joint
ballot OF the forthcoming state legislature by the Re-
pubcans and the election of Anthony Higgins to the
Senate
Thus after midnight darkness OF thirty years dura-
ton the giadderng beams OF the rising of hope began
20 appear the mountain tops and TO descend and
Wate ue valleys OF the republican party ana we an
began look for brighter days and better things. But
it appeared had not been punished enough for
wckedness and idoatry and had to continue for While
longer in the wilderness The land OF promise, flowing
with milk and honey" not yet to be our Inheritance
though we believed mat Il had been promised us because
"tho righteous shall inherit the earth" but IL not
20 be yet must stl continue to eat mama" our
political wounds caused doubtless by our many political
transgressons. had not been healed; there fly
in the ointment with which had been dressing them
this 'hy;" how il bothered by day and kept awake
and distressed us by night for years
During the campaign of iSI2, being away from home
good deal ON business, I had many opportunities to
attend political meetings i'm New York and elsewhere
and hear many Of the eminent public speakers OF both
parties, which gladly took advantage remember
that attended n Cooper Institute. which shall
never forget II was think the first mass-meetng Of
the newly invented Liberal Republican Party, Just
prior TO the National Convention that party Gin
cnnai Horace Greeley the first speaker after a
brief address by the presiding officer almost sec
the wonderfully gifted and dear old philosopher
he walked with his loose shanbng gait TO the front Of
the stage. dressed evening clothes which. while Of
good enough quality looked though they might have
been made for anybody else well for him. his
hooked that they did not reach the soles Of his
boots by two inches and those boot soes apparently
inch thick he stood silent for a after the
mendous applause which greeted him. aud looking
the audience with that well known benevolent smile
his benevolent countenance he said Gentlemen, l am
going TO Cincinnati and take the responsibility"
made wondcrfuispeech! Not at all oraorcal but beau
uful and eloquent n the extreme When he spoke the
Republican party origin its purposes and It's
he elected the admiration ana the plaudits all who
heard him. but when i'm turn he assaied that party
its standard bearer Grant bitterly vehementy
vndictively many said I'm their hearts no doubt
how have the mighty falenl" To It was simply
distressing for from boyhood in the old club" had
always regarded Horace Greeley, politically, as little
lower than the anges!" In many respects 1 do yet,
for that matter
Another memorable meeting that recall was in
Faneul Hail. Boston. The house was packed and the
enthusiasm tremendous Through the courtesy of bus-
ness friend and customer. who member OF the
the platform Stewart J.. Woodford who was
general officer an through the Civil War and
afterwards Lieutenant Governor OF New York and
more recently United States Minister TO SPAIN the
first and principal speaker. He spoke for two hours
and half and the older heads of Wilmington need not
be told that tho audience wanted him sti go
he has often assisted in this with his eloquent
voice and delightful personality In campaigns here.
With others / favored with introduction to him
after the meeting and the next day the train ing
20 New York happened TO occupy a viz in a
Pullman and then and there thrtynve years ago.
began what has been me. of the closest most
endearing friendships that have permitted to
enjoy and has lasted unbroken and undimmed,
sncei
CTo be contnued)