Year: 1878




In q letter to the Manhattan Club Senate,
Bayard defines his position, or rather states
his views OF the "issue" now before the
American people for settlement. 1t will be
observed that he is of the opinion, "that all
other questions may be postponed"


Hear the Senator's own words:


Let them (the people) proclaim as their
resolves


First, That they will have free elections
In all the States, undisturbed and unawed
by Federal interference, civil or military.
Second, The verdict of the people rem
dered at the polls shall be faithfully recorded
and shall be accepted and obeyed.


Third, That the men or the party who
shall stand In the way of these resolves
shall be withered by the wrath of an earnest
and honest people, who love civil liberty as
enshrined In republican institutions and
Intend to preserve 1t tor themselves and
their posterity.


The issue is not less vital than this, and
until 1t shall have been settled definitely In
accordance with these resolves, and 80 un-
mistakably that no man shall venture to
question or gaiusay them, all other ques-
ttons, however Interesting, may wisely be
postponed.


1t is now the great essential in support OF
which not only every Democrat, but all just
minded and conservative citizens of every
party, must rally and when 1t has been
secured, then we may afford to differ and
array ourselves at will upon questions of
political economy, whose importance fully
recognize, but which pale into insignifcance
before the pressing and primary question,
Shall our elections be free, and shall their
results be acquiesced in and obeyed by all ?
Respectfully yours,


T.F. BAYARD.
In Difference to warm feeling entertained
for Mr.. Bayard by great numbers of our
citizens, we have hitherto refrained from
direct personal criticism of his policy. The
above declaration foreshadowing, as 1t does,
the resolutions which his staff will offer at
Dover next month, is so direct as to invite
discussion. We enter the lists.


1t will be conceded that a false issue in
politics can only be raised to call public at
tention away from some real living one,
which the party raising it fears or fatters
about meeting. The entire question as to
Federal interference, and free elections are
settled. The President cannot use the
army for the purpose of interfering, and the
machinery of elections have In the South
passed into the hands of the Democracy,
ard unless Mr.. Bay ard recommends cur
party to be watched, bis first, J" Second !"
and "third" are mere nonsense, and un-
worthy of man with national reputation.
The primary duty of all governments is to
80 shape its policy thaEthe laborer shall be
fed in obedience to the great charter "In
the sweat OF thy face thou shalt eat bread"
The true issue, and the vital one, at present,
is show are the hungry millions TO buy
foods" In view of the fact that large
proportion of the farmers of Delaware, and
of the whole county, are upon the brink of
ruin; that the shop-keepers of the cities
are at their wits end to stave off bank
ruptcy. That myriads of workers are
daily sinking lower In the social scale, from
either ill-paid labor or absolute idleness.
That want sits upon many hearths, and
despair renders desperate large souled
laborers. Is It not akin to mockery to talk