The Republican journal., 1888-04-19
Republican Rhode Island,

ToIIIE EDITOR OF IIIE Joi ENtL; Ir>ter-
day the two great political parties of th- state
met in stubborn contest for supremacy al the
polls. The result Of this battle is very differ
cnt from the report sent YOU nnl diatrll after
the election one year ago, for the Republicans
have emerged from the hcayy cloud, of defeat
into the juyou- sunshine of merttd victory.
by means of genuine di>alcction 1t hos>i~m
and corrupt practices in the ranks of the
hitherto dominant party, the Democrats We're
enabled last year to elect their state ticket aud
secure control Of our Legislature. rhi, tenn
rorary success rendered them dcliaHt, and
flushed with victory which Independent votes
had assisted them toattaiH. they boldly declared
their reign wou!d he continuous and crow Wned
with series of reforms in cou>oua1c. with
advanced IDEAS. But the election Of I;cuul-
iican Representative to Congress last NoNrn-
bcr, in the face of What appeared 1 sure thing
for their favoritc, Judge Bradley. gave pause
To their eNulcranrc for Il season. and convinced
them that nothing short of continuous ever
tion- would retain the r, in> Of ROY crnncnt in
their hands. The record Of the Democratic
General Assembly was such a. 10 alarm con-
seryatyc mcn in all parties. Accordingly, upon
its final adjournment few days ago, it seemed
positive that it, successor would diilr mategi.i-
ly In political complexion. This dr~ilcratHm
was achieved ye>trrIay,a> NiIl be Subsequently
shown.
When the Republican Conl rution Nominated
The state ticket which You printed with favor
able comments 4 short time sine, it was OBJ
serNcdby those couNcr>;nt with our previously
strained condition of PARTY tic~ that >urrtn-
der had been made in favor Of public opinion.
Not only We're the selections admirable. but the
unaninty with which they were ratified by
unpe,lgcd delegates evidenced desire 10 heal
the rupture made hI rash action in the past
The strength of the independent faction cou
not he measured, hut it was thought 50 >ati>sac- |
tory ticket must lead to greater harmony than !
has existed for nearly three wears. The uu- |
fulfilled promises of the Democrats to ''put |
down corruption and di>lIonc>t,. and ",ilGi- |
cate the political honor and purit} of the >tatr,
gave little hope for relief attheir hands, There
fore with closing ranks and hopeful h,sut- the |
work Of reieenin4 tic state wa, l.,ta and |
cca>elc>>l followed mtil the ,rtt.I.. of the |
sun. liy midnight III" to'!oWin2. G,rt- >ccmrd |
cstah>ht'l
The state ticket wa, cig,.ot t'y tlc K uIli- |
cans with varying majorti,> Averaging nearly |
1000. Governor Iaft'- MAJORITY T. ..~t AGAINST
9,3 for Davis last year.
The General As~emhi; |, strongly Republic |
can. Barring incomplete elections ia thr city |
Of Newport and five towns, tIl, ~clatc ,tan,- |
i
Representatives comprises II Republicans, -
Democrats, Prohib;tioni>t. with seven seats
to be hereafter filled.
The amendment to our Constitution j,crca>- |
Ing The elective franchise by admitting uuder
certain qualifications foreign born ritIs H.. |
hitherto excluded, Wa- adopted hy IL Not, OF
2o3l6 against l2.j9o. or a two-thfd> majority |
of 3.,. This amendment WAS introduced two |
years ago by Rcpuhllran member Of E,-
publican Legislature. Ii WAS. of course. ell
dorsed hy the now defunct Democratic A>,enl-
bly,. which vainly cndeayored to assume the
position of creator of the movement. Hut this
glory was denied them, and its paternity re
manned undoubtet upon its adoption Yesterday. |
This action will remove the cause for further
structures upon our lack of generosity to nat |
uralized citizens. In this respect Rhoc Island |
has been grossly m>reprc>entcd and l>unlel- |
stood in the past.
A stubborn fight was maintained aganst |
General Iloraio Rogers. the candidate for At |
torney General, and his majority is nearly
1000 less than that given to the head of the
ticket This is explained by saving that those
hoping for a continuance of the lax conduct of
the late incumbent feared Ger. Rogers might
prove uncomfortable by attempting TO do all in
his power to enforce the prohihitorv law.
The showing made by the prohibitory party
Is once more ve,y fceble it is only about
seventy per cent. of the light vote thrown one
year ago.
The total vote is the largest ever cast in this
state. Last years was unusually large, but is |
exceeded by some 5000 this year.
Having frettcd their brief hour upon the
stage the Democratic officials will now retire
with paucity of expected honors. The Older
and more experienced officers will take up the
work with less show but greater efficiency. 1t
is not expected that they will commit the error
of pardoning second Brockway, nor plunge
the State into needless expense by Investigating
the State Prison for the purpose of creating po-
ltical capital.
OF retiring Governor Davis it must be said
that he has proved Il dicnle Il and urhane En-
ecutlve. and had he not weakly surrendered to
the rampant demands of such political advisers
as his party drew about him, his record in Of
flee would more closely resemble the high es-
teen in which he is held as a private citizen.
l., The satisfactory nature of the coming IegiS-
ture insures the election of a Republican
Senator to succeed Hon. Jonathan Chace in
Congress. The possibility of an opposite re-
suit caused politicians in Washington to look
towards our election with eXpectant eyes.
Having received just chastisement in the
past year, there are good reasons for believing
that Rhode Island Republicans will profit by the
lesson given them. and in the future strive to
overcome the apathy and indifference which
continuous success had made a species of
premium for their betrayal.
NJ. NJ. REYNOLDS.
Davisvlle, r. l., April 5th 1883.