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

canvass in this State when sprague was .
power IN himself was due TO the eccentrlcties OF
that erratlc statesman. HIS witnd rawal rom poll
tics at the time OF the financial accident was az
complete as mis- personal retirement from business.
1t IL not likely however, that he is TO continue abb
sent for many years. either from political or busl-
ness life. Under the efficient management OF the
s trustee ior the creditors the sprague mills are
doing profitable work, ana with the return
able to regain the control OF their
result is attained the temptation re-enter poli
tics will become irresistible to man OF william
Sprague's temperament. Aside from MS own
readiness to engage IN political intrigue there is
another reason for his return to the arena when
ever he shah have rec1perated his financial
strength-the necessity OF having some leader
willing TO spend has money for political pur-
poses around whom the republican malcontents OF
persons now III politics who would willingly
cept such leadership among them. Ex-Governor
build No smisb PARTY Gove ,pp yes sm,rbS
son-in-law, General HorItIo Rogers, a young
man OF boundless ambition and one OF the future
candidates Tor Governor OF Rhode Island would
naturally become the leader OF this faction II
Smith was able to consolidate any real strength.
Inat lie is not able TO do so is not owing
to the want OF disposition among a
large part OF the population to combine
a lack OF intellectual vlgor and moral courage
among the woud-be leaders OF such an orcanlZa-
toe Smiths retainers and the remnant OF tue
Sprague faction would make q very effective OPP
position II they were skilully handled; but 1t is
vain TO hope Tor tnis ana so We shall have TO wait
as that always was and always must prove TO be.
it Will be years however, before this faction can
recover from the effects OF their late overthrow,
and by that time tae Lippitts and Van Zandts Will
all be on the roll OF ex-Gevernors and the younger
men OF both facuOns VIII have come TO the front.
IL VIII be observed that in all this there IS only
personal interest," backed by great manufacture
ing influence. IA this respect Rhode Island Is u
curious political study. Practically. the people
are Ia the condition Of she vassalage OF the Middle
Ages. The mill owners are the great barons OF
The Com monwealth-the lords Of the soil. II they
fail to meet each other in deadly conflict as
III the old times 1t IL only because customs and
forms have changed. The halberts IN the
hands OF the vassal are replaced by bal
lots IN those OF the operative, but the SER
want does tho bidding OF the master as he
did 1t III the day OF turret and castle. This
city Is full OF men who are as powerful in their
way as MEDIEVAL lords, and they are gradually OBJ
tanning titles as determlnate as those which dis
tlngush the English and French nobility. The
manufacturer who lives IN Providence Is haoiJu-
ally spoken OF as from the seat or his mills, and
most or them keep up q sort OF residence in The
rural parts OF the State II any part OIL Rhode
island can be called rural. Everybody knows
That General Butler lives in Lowell and resides at
Gloucester, and this Is the system practced by the
Rhode Island manufacturer VINO Is also politician.
"fhey live in Provldence," says facetious OBJ
server oil human nature, as 1t Is developed In this
exceptional State; "but keep pair or boot legs
In warwick or Coventry, which enables them &c
represent these towns In the Legislature" pc
culiar social and political condition is growing Out
or this relation or mill owner ana operative,