Evening journal., 1908-01-22
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
EoRTY.sEvENTH ARTIcLE.
By Washington Hastings

In 1885 the affairs OF the Republican party in Della
not in a prosperous condition.
Anthony Higgins had taken the nomination for Con-
gress the year before against will and only
keep the party organization intact OF he went
down in the general defeat
A Democratic administration at washington. and the
consequent vanishing any early prospect of Federal
Offices FOR Republicans. had the effect of taking
patriots Of politics" and who remained found
it an extremely difficult task.
one OF the qualifications in this state at that
time and the which gave party managers the most
trouble, the payment of poll tax, amounting
average. to about dollar and thrtyhve cents per
man for men without real property; and in addition to
this there was a tax Of one dollar per head dogs AS
poor in the State especially in the lower
counties always assessed for one dog, and some-
times three or four whether he owned any dogs
not-so il said-the payment OF his tax quail
hcaton for voting was often pretty difficult propo-
cially in hundreds where there happened be Demo
cratic tax colector-vhch happened" in almost all of
them In the lower countes-were obliged pay the
deinquents for him lose his vote And the Re-
pubca did nav such taes for wears: ana iustned the
practice by claiming that the law itself unjust in
equitable and unfair; that IL intended to be In
its inception and enactment was passed for the express
purpose sranchisng the coored voters and that the
manner in which it was enforced was unjust if not
iniquitous
Be this as IT may that method Of qualification of
voters abandoned number Of years and
such restriction exists IL is not worth while to
discuss either s merits its demers here Suffice 1t to
say that the custom grew by what it fed on" and at
last became and burdensome and other con-
ditions by which the party surrounded were
favorable and discouraging that the State Central Com
mttec concluded TO call private conference Of party
leaders consultation and advice with respect to the
general situation throughout the satein view Of the
coming state election Of 1856 and the later general cleo
ton in 1883.
This conference secretly and conhdentally called
and met in Dover early in December 1885, and James
Pennewill the young handsome and able chairman of
the committee, called order and in clear and
lucid address stated the object Of the gathering and the
purpose for which It had been invited 10 meet
The Democratic politicians Of Dover who in good
weather usually spent considerable of their leisure time
i'm the vicinity of the state Houseand around-were
for once taken by surprise and soon were on the
anxious bench" to find out what had brought
Republican politicians to Dover at so unusual and un-
seasonaole Of the year. But as all Of
there "on private business they were, of too
polite to inquire what that business might be- but some
Of them remarked Observation-Disclosures out-spoken old
John f. Salisbury among the number-hat business must
have improved blamed suddenly and simultaneously
The Republicans all the State and that they
wished to gracious that some of it would strike the
Democrats around Dover they tired of doing
nothing but talk politics and wanted a change-athough
sation r. sometimes had been prior TO the advent Of
Grover, or words to that effect.
For the FIRST time in my life saw a congregation of
Republican poiticansstatesmen meant to for this
was not an ordinary, commonplace convention
wherein peace tranquility and apparent harmony pre-
vailed during the whole Of the session Perhaps this
because ALL less deep in 'the
valley Of humiliation" and political distress and realized
doubtless that since useless and unavaing to fight
the Democrats any longer II would be worse han use
less for us to fight among oursevesespeciay there
did not to be anything In sight worth fighting for
And So While there was difference OF opinion on some
points in regard to what the thing to do in
the crcum and considerable very discuss
sion, the proceedings the unusually
peaceful and the Democrats out Dover Green were
entertained by the boiserous Of outraged
and down trodden Republicans contending with
another for their sacred and inherent rights had been
customary similar occasions before. With slight
and unimportant addition in the way of suggestion
20 detail the following preamble and resolution were
adopted with practical unanimythere being but one
vote IN the negative
whereas The Democratic party of Delaware
by series Of cunningly devised statutes.
acted FOL that purpose, has succeeded in de-
privng many of citizens Of their constitu-
tonal right to express their Will at the ballot
box, account of their political faith; and by
unjust discrimination In the enforcement OF
such statutes has nterposed impediments
dinlc ilties to their qualification electors for
the sole purpose OF perpetuating its own power,
and,
whereas Under such conditions 1t is impos-
sble to conduct political campaign against a
party possessed Of all the machinery necessary
20 effect the object contemplated by the said
statutes on fair and equal terms therefore
Resolved. As the sense Of this conference that
the state Central Committee be advised that Il
is deemed unwise and impoltc 20 inaugurate
active campaign in the year 1886; and that the
committee should take only such steps as in their
Judgment necessary maintain the organ
ization Of the Republican party"
As has been said, Sie adoption the foregoing de-
claraton and recommendation Of the conference
practically unanimous. But the decision
rived at without and persistent opposition
the session. the part Of Anthony Hggns-then.
now. prominent and influential leader Of the party
and he only yielded when the vote the question
being akcn his the only vote in opposition to the
proposition And then he bowed only 20 the will
OF the majority but did not abandon MS own Judgment
as 20 either the wisdom or the eNpedency of the sur
render-as he constantly and emphatically denounced
Il
And so the Republican party OF Delaware practically
and 70 all intents and purposes. stacked its linz
bered MP guns fured battle-hag retired
hed so far as the campaign OF 1856 was concerned
m ha ffnttnI