Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-18
PARTIES IN RHODE ISLAND.

The Republican party of Rhode Island was
never before in SO good and promising condi.
ton as at the present time. After the presiden-
tial election of 1856, twas betrayed and divided
for the benefit of few purse proud, conceited,
arrogant, and domineering hunkers who had
voted for Mr.. Fillmore. A portion of the
Republican party united with the Fillmore
men, and formed an american Republican
party" From that time, the original Repub
lican party, much reduced in numbers, was
described as Straight Republican" and be-
came the special object of hatred to the Fill
more hunkers who ruled the new organization.
These men were determined to crush out Hon.
Thomas Davis, at any rate, and trample I'M
der-foot every Republican who manifested
much feeling against the institution of slavery.
There was much strife; and, if Mr.. Davis
had not been one of the most sincere and ear
nest Republicans in the country, he would
have been driven back to the democratic par
ty. No candid observer of this contest has
failed to see the vast difference between Mr..
Davis and his bunker enemies.
Finally, the strife came to an end. The two
organizations came together. They called a
state convention and, thereafter, nothing
more was to be heard of that name american
Republican" for all were to be Republicans
and division should be forgotten. Most of
those engaged in concentrating this union of
the parties, acted in good faith. and win re-
main true to their obligations But, the AFRO
giant and disorganizing hunkers, no longer able
to rule the party and dictate its nominations,
have left it and gone into business with the
democrats. Nothing better could have hap
pened, They are no more Republicans than
slave traders are saints. While out of the oil
garchial slavery party, they are out of place,
and their union with the pro-slavery democra-
cy will soon be complete. The Republicans
of Rhode Island will have good deliverance,
and they should hold a jubilee to celebrate its
Importance. The hunkers are of far less i'm
portance in the world than they appear to
imagine; and this fact they will presently dis
cover. They cannot take into the democratic
party as many votes as their presence in it
will drive out.
These men were not in the Republican par
ty originally. In their influence there is moth.
ing good for the party, which was strong and
united in 1856, when they were Fillmore
Americans, and which will be stronger and
more peaceful than ever now that they have
bolted and gone over to the enemy. In 1856,
the Republicans had 3112 majority over both
the Democratic and Fillmoreites. The vote
stood as follows Fremont IL ,467, Buchanan
$500, Fillmore 1875. For Governor, in 1859,
the Democrats cast only 3546 votes, and Tur.
ner's majority was $500. A heavier vote will
be cast this year, for there is more heat in the
contest, and the boiling hunkers, being veal
thy, will advance money to Qualify demo.
cratic voters by paying their tax bills. But,
the great mass of the voters in the Republican
party are nowise likely to leave it for the &C.
eommoaatlon Of disorganizers of any sort.
Therefore, all the most offensive and corrunt
agencies in Rhode Island politics. being now
at work together in support of the pro.sIaverv
democracy, will have an oyerwhelminr doe,a,
which they will be likely to remember Cor =
long time.