Year: 1876




The Democratic Rules and the Whining


ton Election.


For several years past the Whining
ton democrats have been clamoring for
more power in the party. Finally. in
an evil hour, their number Of delegates
to the State Convention was increased
to ten, and on last Saturday, at New
Castle, with their undue influence at the
county meeting, they succeeded in car
rying a majority for an infamous set Of
rules that had been voted down, by bal
lot, on the 9th Of August, in the differ
ent Hundreds. The infamous Fourth
Rule made Wilmington separate Leg
islative district with one senator and one
representative. The Second District is
to be composed Of Brandywine. Chris
tiana, Mill Creek, White Clay Greek
Pencader hundreds Both of these dis
tricts are Republican, and New Castle,
Red Lion, St. Georges, Appoquinimink
and Blackbird, the Third District, are
Democratic.


This fraud, the Fourth Rule, carried
when the convention was half dis
persed, greatly elated and pleased the
Wilmington Democrats They promised
to annihilate the Republicans on Tues
day, and Mr.. O'Byrne Gas the Herald
calls him) who had abandoned his old
friends and gone in for the Wilmington
crusade against the lower part Of the
county and State, came out in the Her.
aid on Monday, IN true military style,
and gave out that the Democratic pha-
lanx was fully armed and'equipped, and
ready for the battle. It ran somewhat
in this wise q: 1.-The veterans Of the first,
and second wards stand firm third and
fourth wards stand by your colors to the
last fifth, sixth and seventh, cut down
the Republican majorities and carry
these stronghold; eighth ward carry
the Republican works the bloody ninth
show the county what you can do, aid
ed by the police as reserve; the tenth
ward will bring up the rear and all the
victorious legions will form at the City
Hall, where the mayor and Mr..
O'Byrne will make powerful speeches.


After all this display and blowing Of
trumpets, at New Castle, last Saturday,
1 was prepared to hear nothing short Of
Republican annihilation; especially as
Wilmington is the home Of Delaware's
candidate for President. / drove upto
Middletown on Wednesday, saw nothing
unusual inquired for the news from
Wilmington A friend handed me the
Herald. / turnedit upside down and
inside out to see if there was not some
mistake l inquired for Matte. the
grand scribe that drew the aforesaid
rules, to see if he could explain, but he
was not to be found I set down and
pondcred over the great promises made
at New Castle last Saturday and the
auxiliary general. Mr.. O'Byrne's, or
ders in the Herald on Monday; and just
to think Of the utter rout and defeat Of
that fine democratic army could
hardly make myself believe that such
an utter rout could take place, and the
marshals and generals put to fight. =
Rumor has it that the Brandywine
marshal, or general, was seen this
morning peeping out Of his cellar door
and asking if the earthquake had
ceased, as he had important business in
Philadelphia


Now laying all joking aside, in my
opinion the best and surest way to de-
feat the Republicans in this county in
November, is to call a county meeting
at once; reorganize; let all the candi-
dates foi- the Legislature and Levy
Court resign and let a ticket be nomi-
mated by ballotin the separate hundreds,
and expunge that code of rules and
adopt the old policy Of hundred rights
and nominations by ballot Down
with allirings, cliques and exclusives,
and 20 to work as white free and equal
democrats, determined to win, for the
white free democratic masses Of this
county will never be tied up by the
cunning few: And whenever it is at
tempted defeat is sure to follow. This
Wilmington defeat and humiliation
may turn out to be more of q blessing
than an injury. if the democratic party
will have the good sense to take warn
O...-cx