Evening journal., 1908-01-29
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
FoRTY-NINTH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings


In any organization men for the advancement and
promugaton of ideas doctrines political or other
which they believe TO be wholesome leaders
are absolutely neeessary-that to say men who have
the ability and willing to devote a portion their
time to planning and arranging details and devising
the best procedure for the benefit
Of the whole there very important factor
which is equally essential to any such under
taking and that is followers; without followers and
a goody number of Them leaders find themselves
wandering alone in the wilderness children OF
Israel gone lack to the neshpots Of Egypt This
the TO n extent in the Republican party in
this State after the action of the conference Dover
and the subsequent endorsement by the state Central
Committee In 1856. Denunciaton and protest against
unfair tax laws and unjust discrimination against Re
publican voters and appeals for the sympathy and moral
support Of civilized mankind all well enough in
the way, put What the RANK ana ME or the republican
party wanted 70 fight the Democrats and continue
their contention for political principles which they be-
partial Generalization of the party 1856 distaste-
fu If not obnoxious to most of them and leaders soon
found that and proceeded without delay
political fences set their houses in order regenerate
their somewhat and batescarred political bodies
recuperdte THEN nteects and ready for the
State convention which choose delegates to the
National Convention for the nomination Of candidates
for President President in 1885, also pre-
pare for the second state convention which place
candidates for State offices and member of congress
that year in the field
asoAnd, 30 ths Republican band wagon" which broke
down ard left lying stranded along the roadside in
S6, hauled home and repaired and put in fairly
together for those conventions; and all of old pol-
ticians soon falling ourselves to board
The canvass delegates to the FIRST state conven-
ton began early in the spring and animated and
animosity and hostility which had usually characterized
those proceedings We had tasted the bitter Of
misdemeanors, and, remembering that whom the Lord
ovetn he ohasteneth the experience had done good
ourselves
The convention selected a delegation to Chicago of
entrusted TO them with fidelity and the entire satisfac
ton Of the PARTY My name was not even "favorably
the omission vouchsafed. presume, however. IL
partially account of my stiff necked perversity
S4 when was morally certain that he would be
nominated that ballot That may have been
reason but doubtless there others
delegation entirely uninstructed as candi-
dates as was customary, though large majority Of
thereby truly represented the largely preponderatng
sentiment of the Republican voters of the State.
The internal conflict and factional strife
Of the Democratic party Of Delaware in 1sss ragged mag
nhceny and to the great satisfaction and edihcation
from their point of view, Of every Republican in the
state TO attempt TO 90 into the details Of that
useless and Of little interest at this distance Of tmef
indeed could be done with degree Of at ALL
IL extended all the State and its ramhcations
boundless sunice it TO that the complications
and entangements were so extensive and diversified
and tho mix up" bewldering that
commanders in chef-there several OF them--of
the Democratic army down the subaltern
army that each could scarcely recognize his own
ders when he them the field Of battle
Tho Republicans Argus-eyed and alert got
busy all over the state marshaling their forces and
forming and re-organizng their battaons
and otherwise preparing for the forthcoming battle OF
the State election in November The result that cleo
tion while II not all that the Republicans hoped
for they always had habit of hoping for everything
until after eecton-was / take It, than any OF
them really expected; being the election a majority
of the members of the General Assembly t-balot
and Il was great and signal victory as involved the
election Of Senator of the United States by the in
coming Legislatures; who. Of would be a Republ-
and the first OF that political faith the
Senate from Delaware.
To say that situation at once became one Of vital
interest would be but feebly and nadequaey describe
It, II was en- interesting question to everybody, Demo-
Gratis included, bit 10 Republican politicians. OF the
leader variety especially IL was simply aengrossng
and continued TO be- and increased all the time until
the convening of the General Assembly January
FIRST 1883.
The candidates for the honor of being the first Re
Senate many All Of them of the highest
character and standing in community and Of them
with credit 10 themselves and with honor their
The contest was long and tedious and at times somewhat
acrimonious-which would 10 have been unneces-
sary with so good held to pick fronbut at last it
ended by the selection of Anthony Higgins
OF course there was the usual dissatisfaction among
the disappointed candidates and in the ranks OF their
personal friends and advocates, but IL only
porary and shorlived recognized the
nent ability and fitness OF the man for the place,
furthermore all remembered that the
consultation advice every proi-
the party there present the low
ering Of the hag and retiring from the contest Mr.
Higgins alone stood and steadfasty opposed such
action Reminding Of the story Of the solitary
der of the rear-guard Of the French army re-
treat at Waterloo after all OF his comrades either
fallen fed. when with a hundred muskets pointed
back at the victorious with his face to the
his dehent reply the rear-guard Of the Imperial
never surrendersi"
STO be eOntinued)