Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-02
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1870.

The political campaign of 1910, one
OF the most picturesque and interest
ing OF all our struggles for the Presi-
dency, was mainly conducted in Della
ware. so far AZ public expression was
concerned, by the two leading political
papers OF the State the Delaware
Gazette, Democratic organ. and the
Delaware State Journal, ardent cham-
pion of the Whig party. And in Dela'-
ware, as elsewhere. IL was eani-
paign with the enthusiasm and conti-
dcnce of victory all on one side The
side of the Wings. The Democrats
were hopeless from the first. not only
in Delaware, stauneh Whig State,
but throughout the country The years
OF President Martin Van Burens adj
ministration had been marked by q
lccuntrywide business depression, with
great financial distress, and as ever,
the administration was blamed. In
addition, this administration had been
unusually discolered by defaicattons
oe nduciary officers Of the general
government, the sieallngs Of one OF
these fafthless public servants. Swar-
twout, collector of the port at New
York City. having amounted to more
than a million dollars. These specula-
tlons, added to other disturbing ele-
ments Of the general situation. gave
the WhIg politicians the finest kind Of
campaign arguments. and the news
papers -and public speakers made the
most OF their favorlng opportunity.
The triumph of the Whig party was a
foregone conclusion, almost from the
beginning OF the campaign.
sxss.s.. sffst4 ptiltaa
try was more enthusiastic, more Wig
orous, or more confident of victory
than the Delaware State journal. Al
that time the paper was published by
John y. Porter and Henry II, j. Nafr,
the latter being the editor, and q
writer of ability. Some OF our older
citizens of the present day will re-
member Mr.. Naff as one of the most
interesting and lovahle characters OF
their childhood days He was always
interested In public affairs, especially
in public instruction and was useful
member of the Board of Education for
years. Those who were students
about sixty years ago may remember
this checry- faced old gentleman, with
White hair and white side-whiskers,
visiting their schools. listening to
their recitations and eomplimenting
those who occasionally gained special
credit in the popular old exercise OF
speaking pieces That was Henry
II. j. Naff. Others will recall this
same genial old gentleman making q
tour of Wilmington streets early on
Christmas mornings, his pockets
loaded with the old silver three-cent
pieces of that time. giving to each child
he met one of the welcome coins and
A cheerful Christmas greeting.
First in the Field.
The Delaware State Journal was
one OF the first in the field for the
1910 campaign. and during the clos
ing months of the year previous
flew at its masthead the Top OF
its editorial columns the names of
General William Henry Harrison ot
Ohio for President and John Tyler OF
Virginia for Vice-President as pro-
posed by a whig convention held al
Harrisburg. Pa. And this ticket sub
sequently was duly nominated by the
'Whig National Convention. Van
Ruren has nothing 10 recommend
him" declared the Journal of Janu-
ary 81. 1870, and this was evidently
the opinion. of the country. But Van
Buren was renominated by the Demo
cratic party, only 70 be driven to
slaughter by the people.
The Journals real preference for
President was the great Whig leader
in Delaware, John Middleton Clayton
whom il ever supported with loyal de-
yotion. But the popular demand of
the whig party was for General Har-
rison, who had been defeated by Van
Buren in 1886, and the journal fell in
line. holding Clayton in reserve for
the next @~campaign. when again il
was compelled to see him quickly
give way To another leader of greater
fame and wider popularity, Henry
Clay. The Delaware Gazette had ae-
cused Clayton of proposing himself
10 the whig members OF the State
Legislature as a candidate for United
states Senator" which the Journal in
dignantly denied "He is no Office hun
ter and never was" declared The Jour
nal, and il also gave denial 10 the
Gazette's further charge that Mr.
Clayton had endeavored To persuade
Mr.. Wilkinson, landlord of the Wash
ington Hotel at Dover, 10 leave tint
administration party" an offendina
evidently most heinous in she partisan
eyes of the Delaware Gazette. And
with Indignation that fairly boiled
the JournaI gave denial 20 another
foul charge by the Gazette. that Mr.
Clayton had employed a man TO write
his biography" with supplemental evi-
tience in support OF N daniat in tie
form Of i letter from William Huf-
iington. writer of the biography.
1t is interesting to note that ono Of
the slogans advanced by the Journal
in support of General Harrison was
zone Presidential term only. but as
tbs general died few weeks after his
Inauguration. there was no opportuni-
~ Of testing the sincerity of the .Iourn-
ais insistenee upon only single term
for a President. Certainly it did moi
ask for a renomination Of President
Tyler. who succeeded to the Office on
the death of President Harrison, ror
did any other Whig paper.
Enthusiastic State Campaign.
The State campaign Of the Whig
party opened most enthusiastically at
county meeting held 1T New Castle
on Saturday, February g. The steam-
boat New Jersey was chartered for
the free conveyance Of all who de-
sired 70 make the trip over BY boat
from Wilmington ard despite the fact
that II was then midwinter. there vas
a generous attendance AZ the meeting
large delegation was selected To
attend The Wing National Convention
at Baltimore. in May Kent county
Wings mel at Dover on March 3 and