Year: 1876

achieve success than they are now. Ths
pulse Of party feeling is quick and rapie
with both Of these great political contest
ants in the field, and indicates that no
only has the Democracy recovered from
the apathy which caused its recent defea
in this city, but from the extreme NORTH
to the extreme South one line Of renewed
political vigor marks the actions Of the
Democracy. The Republican party e
the State is more terribly harrassed by
internal differences than ever before. Nc
sooner he7 lis harmony been secured by q
1eciprocation of friendly feelings from the
faciional parties which rent and tore its
unanimity, than another factor not without
its influence appears in the contest, and
shakes the unity of the party more severly
than it ever knew before.


The convention Of practical Temperance
men at the Grand Opera House last week,
was not entirely devoid of effect, notwith-
standing it came to an end inglorious wi h
the purposes for which it was called ard
in that end it showed more forcibly than
could have been known, even by defeat
of the party how desperate are its chances
for success. The temperance element G.
the party, foresaw what the result of an
independent ticket would be. 1t was told
in the strong foothold that the temperance
cause has gained in this State; admitted
in speech delivered by the Rev. Fielder
Israel, in which he stated that the Metho-
dist Church held the control of the Temp
erance influence in the hollow Of its hand.
1t is easily told then what a mass Of its
own people the Republican party would
have arrayed against it, with Temper.
ance ticket in the field, advanced. and en-
dorsed by ministers of the Methodist
Church, and earnestly protected by strong
delegations from the same church in which
the colored man would be as prominent as
The white. E2pediency demanded, as was
frequently stated in resolutions, that an in
dependent ticket should not be placed in
The field.


And although called in the name Of a
Temperance Convention, it was virtually
a Republican body. The speeches a.
breathed the spirit of Republicanism, and
there was not one present who exercised
any of the rights of delegate, who had
Democratic proclivitios. The despera.
lion Of the party in the approaching elec-
ton was reflected in the determination of a
majority of the Convention not to allow an
independent ticket receive an endorsement
and this bad strong leadership in the
clergy represented. The accomplishment
of The purpose for which the Convention
was held, would have been declaration Of
war in the Republican ranks, and bitter
opposition TO the candidates of that party.


The Temperance cause is one Of stronger
influences iu the lower counties than it hes
ever been in This, but recently it
has gained in activity with the
people of New Castle. There are
Two thousand signatures affixed to what is
termed the iroa clad oath, the provisions of
which are so s.H;ct that it would be impo :
sble for one Of those who have signed it to
vote for any other candidate, than one who
would pledge himself to be in
favor Of total abstinence, and favor
no legislation than did not er.
lorse it. These votes could not conscien-
,;oos'y go for any MAJ upon the ticket Of
he Republican party. There are several
thousand who would not vote anything
Else il the Temperance ticket was in the
ield, and this there will be, as the solemn
lesurauces OF the Convention State. With
hese 81 ong obstacles 10 onteod with, the
.ause of the Republican party in Della.
ware in The approaching Stale election is
more hopele,s than any they have ever en-
jagged in.


The temperance fight will be one more
.ge ressive since the disorderlv termina-
ion of the recent convention, than it would |



rave been had it had conclusion in a |
friendly spirit. Those who have not SUI
endered te enperance principles 10 political
lmbi,iops, are determined upon vigorous
,ampa;gc, that will take into lis advocacy
he various societies and lod dges, who will |
o, lsh means to urge on an unrelenting
yar'me against the Republican party, |
which wos the influence that wrought the |