Evening journal., 1919-05-26

Memory need go back but few
years to recall when Delaware Nas
a reproach to her sister states Of the
Union; when her politics was looked
upon as cesspool OF niqulty, and
when thousands Of voters, upon whose
action the fate OF humanity might de-
pend, sold their brthright for few
dirty dollars That was in The DAYS
Of the unspeakable Addlcks. and the
legacy Of evil that he left has never
been wholly eradlcated.
Now, however, more sinister men
ace threatens Delaware than any thai
Aadlcks most lagrant program Of
corruption ever contemplated. The
! state from end 10 end is being made
the stage for the most perious exper-
| Iheht IN debaucherY that this cnun-
! Try mas ever Witnessed And there Is
no attempt at secrecy. The whole evil
| program Is writ large on the face of
the current everyday happenings IF
me community. With an cffrOntery so
brdzen and 50 audaci0us as TO mike
q critical onlookef gasp with amaze
ment-with an utter contempt for pub |
llc opinion that would have beatted the /
halser or the Gar in their pllmy days, /
tle peoples government Is made the /
plaNtiing OF wanton rancor and the /
Nsport Of relentless hate.
Campaigns Of political corruption /
are not unknown IN American COM
munlties. Many time and oft have
the harpies OF politics. spurrcd on by
access 10 Immense "Yellow-dogn funds.
or lured by the barrels" of aspiring
mlllionaires, stood ready to carry out |
tle orders Of the man "higher-up" no
matter what those orders We're. Della
ware has much first-hand knowledge of
Just how far men OF a certain type
can be induced 20 go If the money
offered be but large enough Addcks
found men ready TO stultify themselves .
ana to impose a stigma on their de-
scendants That merciful Time can never
wipe out, and Addicbs was a mere
piker. Keeping in mind The loathesome
depths to which The State sank i'm his +
Time, what may not happen whcn the IN
same kind Of cattle as those who grow {
rich from the friction of Addicks' cor I
ruption fund see al their command Is
fortune that is practically illimitable / r
and for which they need only render a / a
service Of dcstructlon2 \
1t will be recalled that many men OF 5
respcctability were associated with the o
Addicks forces. men whose public and
private life was bameless. and who n
had no part in the bribery and cor /,
'uption which We're rampant. These -pl
non for the most part were drawn 10 =
Nddlcks because they were convinced
hat the Democratic oligarchy which |
untrolled Delaware must be over
brown. They wanted to see Delaware /
made a Republican state and they i
aw in Addjcks a means 10 that end /
But no such reason can explain as II
ociation with the movement that is
low under way here. No righteous |
rinciple is to he supported. No pub
c or party advantage could be Sc
ured by its success.
Addicks wanted an Office. The leeches |
,ho bled him white had, a much more |
ilicult task than that which 6on-
ronts the ghouls who now hope 10 |
atien on The gold that is offered in
Xchangc for the blood Of honest cleo II
ions and the soul Of free American.i
lstltutions. Addicks had a well-de- / !
ncd 0mbtion MisconceNed and III :.
egotten as that ambition Of his was. =
esasing and depraved as were the
eans by which he sought TO crafty
desperate and piratical as We're the Ii
'ew OF scalawags and free-booters Ff
hom he commanded. Addicks at least |
ught what his distorted vision and |
arped brain looked upon as an honor. | |
D similar motive inspires the con- |
tracy against our free institutions 4 | |
at now imperils the lives and for ~
mes Of every Delawarean. No con -
'uctive purpose--however mistaken
d unhallowed-mpels The evil ac-
ms that are undermining the moral ~
lmina Of our people and threaten q
e overthrow OF an that is true and ES
od in our public life. And what -
er excuse or palliati0n might have y *
en- urged in behalf Of Addicks must Il