The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-07-04
REPUBLICAN R0TTENNESS
RHODE ISLAND PRoAiBlTiOklSFS
DELIBERATELY BETRAYED
Perlidy Unparalleled in Politics-Prom-
ises Made Only to BE Broken-Gen.
Mescalf and Mrs. Foster Used as Tools
ard Then Ccntemptuously Spurned.

Aeain have Republican temperance
voters been duped and betrayed to their
own shame and to the disaster of Pro-
hibition The Rhode Island legislature,
elected on explicit platform and per-
sonal pledges of the enforcement of
the prohibitory laws and the passage
Of stronger acts, has deliberately
violated it's pledges. and thrown out an
act which they had squarely promised to
pass In their late desperate effort to re-
gain control of the state they made
powerful and very successful attempt to
gain the Prohibition vote The RepubH-
can convention solemnly declared that.
at is the duty of the general assembly
to make all needful laws for giving effect
ivenass to constitutional provisions, and
it is the imperative duty of all executive
officers to enforce such laws"
A campaign followed in which bribery
played no small part. and the Republicans
won
Henry B. Metcalf. the shining light of
the anti saloon portion of the Republican
party, said in card published in The
Providence Journal of June 10:
The result achieved the success OF the Re
publican party was attained through pledges,
publicly made by myself and others, Of the
good faith of the party to the assurance
given in its resolutions or platforms, that the
fifth amendment to the constitution the
prohibition amendment should be respected
and enforced in letter and spirit By force
Of circumstances, all of which you (Republi-
can members Of the legislature) fully under
stand, the enactment of the 50 called Exam
sas injunction law" has become the test of
the Republican party's fidelity to its pledges
and will inevitably be so regarded by the
community.
No party ever went into campaign
with better understood pledge than that
of the Republican party in Rhode Island
to pass the Injunction law If given con-
troll Of the legislature.
The legislature assembled at Newport
on the goth of May. OF the 70 members
of the house 60 were Republicans, and Of
the 80 members of the senate 81 were Re-
publicans.
The Injunction bill was introduced in
the house, and, although there was ample
time for it's consideration, yet that body
refused then to consider it, but made it
the special order for an adjourned session,
to be held at the same place June IL, for
the purpose of electing a United States
senator.
At this session the assembly elected
Jonathan Chace, senator, and the house
took up the injunction bill. But on the
18th, the senate passed resolution pro-
viding for adjournment that day. and to
the dismay of the temperance people the
house Immediately concurred.
In spite of this an effort was made to
pass the injunction bill, and the debate
was intensely acrimonious. Again and
again did few Republicans declare that
their party was pledged to its passage
and that q failure to do SO would be pun
ished by the defeat of the party next fall
Representative Pierce. of Providence,
said.
'"Vo me, it seems that the duty Of the
hour is plain that this bill should pass
without being crippled by hostile amend
ments. and substantially as reported by
the committee The honor of the Repub-
lican party is here and now at stake. Our
plain duty as legislators under that con-
stitution, which we have all taken
solemn oath to support. requires the en-
sctment of all such measures as are neces-
sary to render it's provisions effective; and
it is from standpoint of the highest
political expediency that this bill pass"
An amendment was introduced, provid-
ing for jury trial on any question of
fact that might be raised. This amend
ment, of course, would defeat the very
object of the bill, but on being put to
vote it was carried by vote of "a 90
Republicans and Democrats) to 81 (26
Republicans, 4 Democrats and Prohibi-
tionist). This disheartened the friends
of the bill. who thereupon withdrew it.
and the house voted to adjourn.
But before adjournment the lowest
depth of turpitude was reached. and
gross insult was added to injury.
A resolution was introduced by Re-
publican leader, proposing an amendment
to the constitution repeating the prohibi-
ton amendment.
That the purpose of the Republican
leaders was deliberately to violate their
pledges and ignore the temperance senti-
ment is proven by the following extract
from The Providence Dispatch. which.
since The Journal was read out of the
party, has become the recognized Repub-
ican organ. 1t says of the defeat of the
injunction bill:
The temporary defeat of the Kansas in
junction clause at Newport Wednesday
afternoon naturally pleases the liquor
men. For while the situation looked
very rocky for them and their business,
and they felt gloomy and respondent
When the legislature went to Newport IN
April the liquor dealers counted up q ma
Jority of twenty against them, and they
were sure of being legislated out of bust
ness. Their only hope was to tie up
the Kansas bill until this week, when
there might be turn in the tide
in their favor. Il Now it
is derlorod hx- tba Ioodors that the