The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-27
RHODE ISLAND.

NIGHT SESSION AND NOMINATION AT FIVE
O'CLOCK IN THE MoRNING-HENRY @. LIP
PITT, WEALTHY MANUFACTURER, THE
NOMINEE FOR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SPLITS
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-GOvRRNOR HOWARD
AND THIRD TERM'-A SKETCH OF THE
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE
STATE
PROVIDENCE, March &c, 1875.
The political caldron here is tremendously
stirred over our coming State election, and the
little State is shaken from one end TO the other.
Political circles have never before been agitated
to such great extent as at the present time.
The leaders OF the opposing elements began
manipulating the wires several months ago,
the well known and avowed aspirants for
the coveted position OF Governor being
Henry G. Lppitt, prominent and wealthy
manufacturer, ana our present Lieutenant Cover
nor, Hon. Charles c. Van Zandt. Governor How
ard announced that he would not be a candidate
for reelection, having served twice and not car
ing lor "third termn chow unlike our modern
Caesar in the White HOuse), and his determination
lett the field practically to the above named
parties. The issue that was made Is prohibition,
at present IN force in this State, and This is to test
the relative strength OF the battling lorces Lppit
put himself forward as an anti-pronlbitonist, while
Van Zandt sought the support OF the temperance
party by speeches and otherwise. Thus was
the issue plainly made and the contending par
ties mustered their entire strength for the
struggle. The first stage OF the contest was the
primary meetings for the election OF delegates TO
the Convention, and this put both sides to the
test The caucuses were packed and, it Is charged,
by persons OF every political shade and opinion.
In several localities contestlng delegations were
elected, and the usual cry of ''packed primaries
political prostitution" and .''demagogulsm' was
raised by the truly loyal in the hope of defeating
IF tha
stances. The contest was exceedingly close and
exciting ana the result was watched with great
interest and anxiety. The result was claimed as
q triumph for Lippltt; but the forces Dattled SO
closely and the election OF delegates III several
cases being questioned, the Convention alone
could decide the true state OF affairs, and hence
all interest centred In the Convention which
the ts CITY as e s1se
great that an adjournment had 70 be
made to the hen ACADEMY Gao OF Music the LIP
ton Of Francis Colwell. A long, animated
and wrahgling discussion then ensued tho
admission Of delegates, and 1t was found neces-
sary to hold an evening session. The fight was
resumed in the evening, aud waxed warm and
In imitation OF Congress the TWO parties deter
mined TO 'slt 1t OUT, and an all night session was
F. DIXON, Cyrus Harris and other prominent poll
tlcians, while General Horatio Rogers.
the Burnside es"sr sae last ssna
and others equally well Known led
Lippitt forces and all that political ingenuity
and determination could devise used by tue
vIgllant ana unwearying leaders to get the COW
eted nomination. The votes on the numerous
questions OF admitting delegates showed the par
ties 10 be pretty evenly balanced. The Llppist
men, however had slight advantage, ana this
made the Van Zandt supporters desperate. As an
ingenious effort and last resort the Van Zandt
men sprung the name OF Governor Howard upon
the Convention, reying upon that oacial,s popu-
ase Gp s sn np ss~ the qeSse Snd
just one majority, and he was declared the nomi-
nee OF the Convention amid great cheering from
his friends. Henry T. Sss9n, man OF Lppdtt
and thus the Lippitt ticket carried the day, or
rather the night. j. w. Aide Alderm nam was nomi.
for Attorney General and Samuel Clark for
general Treasurer, the last three being the pres
ent incumbents This is triumph OF the license
party, and 1t 10 confidently beiieved this result
win be confirmed at the polls on the first
in the s1nss
canei to meet on Monday 70 nominate
prohibitory ticket and 1t Is thought that II some
strong, acceptable name Is presented, the opposi.
ton to Lippitt viii concentrate on the ticket OF
the pronibtuonists. Van Zandt is hardly accept
them in adopting the republican ticket as the last
election, although Van tried hard at the Assembly
session to appear as TEMPERANCE s man, max
ever, his opponents characterized as mere
.campaign talk,' {, bid for :ne Governorshlp-
Possibly, in view OF the result OF the convention
and the use OF his name there Governor Howard
may be induced to stand as the prohibitory noml-
nee, in which case ne would give Lppitt q hard
run. But Howard would hardly care TO take any.
thing less than the regular republican nomination.
The 1ny nope OF hppts OPP opponents now IS
Them rom complete and disastrous
rout. The liquor question here at present
is very much complicated, a legislative inquiry
and dispute being pending over recent conflict
OF authority between the United states Marshal
and the state c0nstabuary. IL Is this veXed ques-
ton that has split the repu olican party, and the
probability is that the verdict Of the people at the
polls will DC against the continuance OF prohibi-
The democratic nominee will doubtless he Gen.
era Olney Arnold, out the great mass OF the
democrats VIII support Lippttt on account OF his
pronounced anti -pronibtion principles.
THIS contest takes all Its interest iom the, 1act
that the only thing worth living lor III Rhode
Island Is TO become Governor OF the state. Even
this Is not the cnef charm OF existence here, ior r
Is altogether more honorable to De an Ex-Governor
than the actual Governor of the commonwealth.
That list, already long one, coniers u
distinction scarcely less important tnan to belong
10 one OF the great families OF the state lt would
be vain task to attempt TO enumerate all the
names OF our former Governors which belong to
living men. Eight OF them l am able TO recall
"a / wrlte-Ellsna Dyer. now IN political retire
ment. but stl IN active business; Jackson, or
whom Know nothing more tnan the name; Hop
pin, kindly and interesting Old gentleman,
VINO chrrnps as happily as when n,. ne was sou
ence; Anthony, for fifteen years In the
senate, and one OF the most accomplished
and scholarly members OF that BODY James Y.
smith, still extensively engaged IN business and
anxious to become commissioner whenever
cOtnTnlSSlOn Is framed, WnAbeVeT Tile purpose,
Spraguc, just rctred from the Senate ana re-
Operating from the disastrous consequences OF
his recent failure; Burnside, the magnificent, who
Is Sprague's successor IN the senate, and Padel-
ioru, a harmless old gentleman VINO Is to this
State what Governor kitner was to Pennsylvania
quarter oil century ago. To these
names viii soon be added that OF Governor
Henry Howard. who persists In refusing
a reelection. and for whose place there are At
least two prominent canddates--Henry Lippitt,
OF this city who has been candidate for
many years as To have earned ana 10 receive the
tttie OF governor" already and Lieutenant
Governor Van Iandt one OF the most popular men
ia the state, who strangely enough generally
succeeds In getting beaten whenever hts popu-
larty ought to stand MIN in It's best stead.
since the failure OF the great manufacturing
house OF a. w. SrraRue and tue CONSEQUENT re-
trement OF the head Of the house frois the polti-
ca arena, the dramatic element has been lacking
IN Rhode ls!aad ooliLlls' Qne'hall tho hoaot OF a