Evening journal., 1908-02-05
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
FIFTY-FlRsT ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

The new and first Republican Senator from Della
after iontsessions of the legislature
which ballot only taken each day. at
length duly elected and has been stated Mr. Higgins
the fortunate and, his friends claimed the ap-
proprate selectonhis opponents the contest both
the candidates themselves and the advocates of
their cause freely frankly admitting its pro-
prety htnes and qualification the position The
contest before the legislature protracted and per-
sisteny sustained by the friends and adherens Of all
the other candidates and its conclusion left party
practically united and in good condton-absolutey so
with the exception Of very few and unimportant
henchmen Of other candidates who were really
in the race-only thought they Mr.. Higgins
took his seat 10 the Senate in the following Spring
upon discharge his public duties there
HIS performances of those duties is book and
mRttef OF public record and need not be commented
on here The performance Of what may be called his
semi public duties, namely the allotment and distrbu-
ton Of the Fedora Offices In the state was judged ana
criticised just Is that of senators in every other
state favoraby by those who received the appoint
ments and their friends, and adversely by those who
didn't receive them and their friends the point of view
making all the difference in the world in politics as in
most other things
Tho Harrison and Morton campaign OF the Repubn-
can party IN Delaware in 1855 was in the hands OF an
able State Central Committee and conducted with
all the Industry vigor and animation Of a party which
had out recently been born again; and as honestly
"as the law allowed" While the Republicans could
say ! heard Of a saying, that he knew
the law because he helped to make It, they never having
had much opportunity at that business In this State,
they knew the law" and especially, the
sessment and collection law and some OF them being
lawyers they had often, long and laborously studied
and pondered over that law with vexaton and ears;
and sometimes with something else. So, they knew
it, knew IL Of old knew II thoroughly and well, its
strong points we'll its weak They also knew
that in honestly observing and obeying its precepts
and provisions they would the reward of just and
honest politicians hereafter-but not at that election
but II they broke II they might incur the pains and
penalties prescribed for that nfraconhere in this
life And II. after due and mature consideration"
they concluded 10 obey the obnoxious election law and
remain honest men, in view Of all the circumstances
in the and in the exigencies and emergencies of
desperate political campaign they determined TO take
the chances both here hereafter just
law little here and there in places tell And
suppose some OF my Democratic friends will be unSind
enough TO say that wouldn't If could. don't mind
that however have heard Democrats talk politics
fore.
That had lively and interesting campaign in
papers called each other as ugly names and said as
mean things about each other ethics and
politeness will permit All the political orators and
spell binders in the State good, bad and indifferent
were called out and put in active service and told
hreatnessy attentive and admrng audiences Of all the
bad things that Mr. Cleveland had done during his
elllesala- all the good things that Mr.. Harrison
xoUd az WIEN he got in AS they assured them that he
would donot mentioning the distribution of the oaves
and fishes" 70 afterwards, which understood
and went without sayng-expiained TO them All the in
rcacies and mysteries and falacies Of political economy
from the free trade standpoint Of the Golden Club and
benehcent doctrines OF tariff for the protection OF
speech,-a supply Of which always carried along.
dent Mr. Cleveland carried Delaware
In tho Of grand and scholarly address in the
convention at Chicago in 1884, Mr.. George William
Curtis Of New York secondng the nomination of Sena-
Edmunds after referring the long power
held by the Republican party and reminding the con-
venton of the danger Of dissensons within the party
ari said
"rhs is the sta OF the country; this Is the
rty and confronted with
the Democratic party, very hungry, and, you
may well believe very thirsty; party without
single definite principle; a party without any
distinct National policy which il dares to pre-
sent TO the country; party which fell from
power conspiracy against human rights
and now attempts TO sneak back to power
conspiracy for punder and spoils"
Whether all OF Of at this late day agree
with Mr. Curtis TO the motives which inspired the
Democratic party in 1884 not the force and vgor
his arraignment and the beauty Of his rhetoric viii
be disputed the fact that the Democrats did sneat
back TO power cannot be denied
And so, four years later. when Mr Cleveland after
having promptly turned the rascas out" gracefully
stepped down and out" himself and Mr Harrison,
just as gracefully and doubtless quite ioyfuy
the steps Of the white House and, with equal prompt-
tude, proceeded to turn the rascals agan-if any
10 be found in the Republican party-there was
thanksgiving and praise in the hearts all the Re-
publican politicians Of Delaware.