Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-24

cordial support. and that Of Thomas Je.lcrscr
his hearty anathcmas. Opposed to James
Madison, the war with Great Britain, James
Monroe, and the whole Republican party, he
stood forth in North Providence as a candi-
date for official distinction, and was elected
for several years Representative to the Gen
eral Assembly. Al time when the violence
of party had efectuaIly subsidized IN that town,
and men were Unfortunately selected from
among the most worthy AID intelligent, with
out regard to former distinctions, and al ap-
| pearcd to acquiesce in the calm Administration
OF Mr.. Monroe. the citizens were suddenly sur
! priced with an occurrence which was truly ex-
'raordinary, as j. was ludicrous and laughable,
IL was announced by a Providence politic ician,
then Senator in the Legislature, that upon
certain conditions being complied with by one
or two republicans then in office, Abraham
wilkinson would probably Immediately become
| republican, and Of course two republican Re-
prefentatiyes would certainly bo elected from
that town the next session THIS the IIonora-
bio Senator said, "was one Of the grandest
( things that had ever happened for ourJciks."'
The course Of business probably rendered il
necessary, that the above mentioned condit-
ions should be performed, for which do no,
attach blame to the persons TO whom they were
rendered. Here let it be remarked and the
circumstance cherished in long remembrance,
that within very few days after the Hon
prophetic Senator had given out this strange
premontien. Mr.. Abraham Wilkinson gave
notice to s,aunch old republican OF Paw,ucket
that the "scaes had fallen from his eyes" TO
use his own expression) and that snow he was
able to 500 the same as he saw" or words Of
the same import. What remarkable coin
cidence" This impor,an, revolution happen
ed in the close of the year 1921, or the begin
ming of 1922. At the representative election
next following, two respectable and intelligent
republicans wero nominated through the aeen-
cy of Mr. Wilkinson, and as there was no par.
ticular objection TO thom, they were elected
without much opposition.
Let us now take brief glance at the re-
publican movements of this new convert,
since the scales were removed and he was able
to see SO much "marvellous light" What per-
haps may appear little extraordinary to my
readers is that his first act of Rcpublicanism,
Judging from outward appearances, was to con-
meet his whole political destiny with Hon.
Elisha x. Potter. with whom he has moved
in concert through all vicissitudes ever since.
need not stop TO provo this fact, as public
no,oriety will sustain me in the assertion. I do
not rcco!!ect solitary political question that
has since arisen in the state upon which :bey
have been at variance, but like Saul and iona
than have sustained each other as if bound by
some indissoluble tic, and like them, in their
fall will not be divided The opposition rails
cd against the election of our present Repre
sentatves to Congress, for the purpose Of GEN.
ding other delegates who were either in the
opposition, or un!riendly to the American sys- |
tem-the attempt made to force Mr. Potter
into the Senate Of the United States against
the wishes Of the people, TO The exclusion of a |
TREND to the Administration and an able poll |
tician-the means taken to defeat the reform
in our Supreme Judicial Court by practicing !
deception on the freemen of town-the yio
lent opposition TO the taxing ofbank stock and
afterwards falling in with the measure and
using it as hobby for political purposes, and
the opposing of the Harrisburg Convention,
are the principal chara ctersticks of the Re |
pnbhcanism Of Abraham Wilkinson since his !
great change.
might mention several other acts Of a SIM
liar description but these will suffice. defy |
any man to point out solitary instance
wherein that gentleman has boen fortunate
enough TO commit an act which can furnish !
evidence that he is, or ever was Republican |
II would be impossible at present to deter
mine what are his views and sentiment respect
ing the administration. l believe he stands
ancommihed 1t would be equally difficult TO
surmisc what oh ject he has in view as to office,
though few will doubt that he has the promise
OF something. short time since in political
dispute, he informed a person that ho would
probably find him out in tpenty ycars,"-I
strange indeed that a Republican politician
should set the people twenty years stint to
"find him out!' I however, trus, that few
will take the trouble and so much time on that
business, but rather will rest satisfied with what
they already know. However much mystery
Mr.. Wilkinson may wish to throw around his
sufficient has been exposed to the
world to show that he is firmly attached to an
unPrinciplcd Arisocracy, and is attempting to
wrest from the hands Of the people their legi-
innate rights. l cannot believe that he has
ever yet been able to convince a single indi-
vidual, that be was sincere when be assumed