Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-27
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1870.

Never did the Democrats Of Della
ware have a more animated, inspiring
en ioyable or exciting State campaign
than that Of 1876 They we're united
enthusiastic and full of confidence ms
to results both In state and nation
THE Congress elections OF 1874
throughout the country had resulted
In a veritable Democratic landslide,
not only wiping out the large Re
publican majority In the House ol
Representatives. but replacing It by
a Democratic majority of even larger
proportions. Capacious party head
Quarters I'm Wilmington were estah-
lished on the second floor of the ME-
lCiary building, on the west side OF
Market street above sixth 1now the
crosby & Hill building). and were
open and crowded every night
loxcept Sunday throughout the cam
paign. Many fine public meeting
was held there. rs the hall would ac-
Irommodate about six hundred. Good
feeling and thorough fellowship pre-
vailed and much zest was impaired
C. the nightly assemhlages by the
lsinging Of cheering campaign songs.
under the able instruction Of ex-sherin
Thomas M Ogle. who was past
master at this profession Many an
old Democrat Of today will recall this
notable campaign IN Delaware with
thrills of joyous "Reminiscences.
The Republicans were by no means
idle or listless, hut they we're still
handicapped by factiunal divisions over
| Federal patronage and party control.
| The two wings, "stalwarts" and "Half
| Breeds. looking mainly tu the power
and profits Of patronage. fought each
! other like Kilkenny cats" but they
came together by election day. At
lea ST in Wilmington where they made
! determined fight In the hope Of
carrying New Castle county. even If
defeated in Kent and Sussex. AT the
city election that year, the Democrats.
Weighted down by the depressing in
| uence of year Of profligacV. extrava-
ganee and Incompetence In the city
administration rs a Democratic city
| Council. had heen defeated hv ma
| iority Of about 100. carving only
the Second and Tenth wards. and those
/ ~ reduced ma ioritiea. The Republi-
| an ward majoritIes were large for
that day. that in the Sixth ward being
| very heavy. Of which more anon.
Mr.. Hayard and the Presidency.
That year. FOR the FIRST time. Thomas
r Bayard Of Delaware was put for
ward in the national political arena aR
candidate FOR the Democratic noni-
nation for President. The national
| convention was held at st. I.nuis. and
considerable delegation of Delaware
49, q fft-
| Bayard Colonel William G. Whitley
who had been called from retirement
the wear before and elected mayor on
| The Democratic ticket over Mayor
], shua Valentine. placed MIR Rayard
IN nomination in an eloquent speech
But Delaware not only suffered in
| laestiEe by reason OF her small size.
but was looked upon at that time as
| too much OF a Southern State to fur
nish a candidate for the Presidency.
Southern delegates being afraid of
the effect Of such nomination at that
| time And So Samuel J. Tilden. the
great reform governor of New York
with his prestige of ability and politi-
cal power. was chosen, few Democrats
a. that time remembering that he was
one of the New York leaders of the
Van Buren "Barnburners" who had
defeated Lewis Cass for President in
lS4S. or attaching any weight to that
ancient apostacy. Senator Thomas A.
Hendricks of Indiana was nominated
for Nice-President.
Delaware Democrats accepted these
nominations with enthusiasm and went
to work vigorously upon a campaign
to endorse them with the support OF
their State. Congressman James Will
ians was renominated by acclamation.
for he was very popular and had serv-
ed well in Congress. although he was
no speaker. The Republicans nomi-
mated Levi c. Bird of this city.
Dear old Levi Bird! He deserved
better political fate than to have
been a Republican in Delaware in
those days. Had he been a Democrat
he would have been awarded high
political honors, instead of being only
a leader of the "Stalwart' faction of
the Republican party. How memory
now pauses at the mention of his name
to recall his sterling virtues, his abil-
ity as lawyer, his splendid per-
sonal qualities, his enduring friend
ships and his broad humanity. In
many respects ii may truly be said of
him: We ne'er shall look upon his
like again"
An Exciting Election Day.