Milford chronicle., 1908-08-21
The Occasion.

character OF the monarch. III az
aristocracy or autocracy the hap
piness of the people lies within
the whimsical will of the few who
have usurped the functions OF gov
ernment. The veal of democ-
racy, however, is determined by
the prescience of its citizens in dis
corning critical periods and by the
wisdom in the choice made.
It is common place to state that
Delaware is a representative democ-
racv, that sovereignty springs from
and resides with its people, and that
the electors are the arbiters Of their
own destiny.
The people OF Delaware have
always been alert to recognize piv-
otal periods both in the nation and
in the State. Delaware early rec
ognized that the Articles OF Con
federation "were a rope of sand,
and was one of the four States to
send Commissioners to Annapolis
for the purpose of framing a Con
stitution which would give to the
federal government power to enforce
its DEGREES. When the fate OF the
Federal Constitution tremble in the
balance, Delaware has the proud
distinction of being the first OF all
the thirteen colonial states to ratity
that instrument. When the terri
torial integrity of these United
States was assailed by the doctrine
of State right carried to its logical
conclusion of notification and
consequent secession, Delaware
recalled the shibboleth Of the rev
olutionary patriots and elected as
Governor a citizen who believed
that in union there is strength, and
thus remained to the union of the
States.
A few years ago, the people OF
Delaware, realizing that the State
constitution of 1881 Disseminated
with too much severity in favor o,
the privileges ofestablished wealth.
determined to mollify the rigor OF
its provisions by abolishing wealth
possession as a qualification for GER
offices andby making Their ewards
of citizenship synonymous with the
qualifications of electors. Thus
was enlarged the freedom Of the in
dividual which ceased to be meas
ured by his wealth, but was made
commensurate with his worth as
man.
Under the Constitution of 1891
the Judges of this State were APP
pointed for life. Among the many
changes for the better contained in
the present constitution Of this State
is the provision which fixes the
term of judicial Office at the period
of ten years.
1t was in pursuance Of this clause
of the Constitution that the then
Governor Tunnel appointed the
present members of the Supreme
Court of this State. The terms Of
all these Judges will expire during
the term of the Governor to be cleo
ted by the people at the next gen
eral election. The character of the
Judges, their learning, probity and
attitude of mind will mould the
nature of the justice melted out in
out courts as clay follows the mo-
ton of the potter hand.
Hence it is that by constitutional
PRONUNCIATION for at least the per
iod of ten years, the life, liberty
and property of the individuals of
this State are placed in the power
of one man; and here also repose
the sanctity of our courts and the
preservation of their traditions of
Justice between man and man, I'M
sullied during a century or more by
snarl Of disappointed litigant, or
courageous charge of Jealous advo-
cate, or envious SANDER of thwarted
ambition.
The election of the next Cover
nor of this State is a most momen
tous occasion to the mind of him
who values liberty of life and limb,
to him who has regard for indivi-
dual rights in property and to him
who believes that a pure and COM
petent judiciary is essential TO the
of blind justice, and |
who knows that individual liberty |
can be protected, that the accumn-
lations Of effort and self-denial can
be conserved, and that the judicial |
ermine can remain unsoiled only so
long as the power of judicial APP
pointment vests i'll a State officer
who is master of himself, owing
debt or allegiance to none save his
State and his God, as able as he is
just and as just as he is white of
mind.
Another consideration emphasizes
the Importance of the vigilance of