New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-02
RHODE ISLAND IN THE BALANCE
TIE ISSUES JOINED FOR WEDNESDAYS DE-
CISION
acANpALoUs RECORD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
WHY ALL TEMPERANCE VOTERS SHOULD SUI
PORT TIE REPUBLICAN TICKET.

acANpAIoUs RECORD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
WHY ALL TEMPERANCE VOTERS SHOULD SUP
PORT TIE REPUBLICAN TICKET.
PROVIDENCE, R. l., April l.-Greater interest Is
felt in the State election which takes place neA'
Wednesday than in that of last year even al
corresponding time in the campaign Inc he-
publicans last year could not believe that u was
possible for the Democrats to succeed aho 'no
members of that party had become SO accus'oin."
TO defeat that they only hoped for ouo naroiy
expected victory. But this year the hePuoiio"n'
are very hopeful of success, yet such grea' in-
terests are at stake that they arc nervousy anx-
inns az IN the result The Democrats, having
tasted the sweets Of power, which they see SIP
ping from their grasp, are more anxious than
hopeful The singular attitude OF " lhe Jourhai
adds to the feeling Of distrust IN poth pol'icai
camps Though neither party Is able TO say WIN
any positiveness whether tie studied abuse OF
Iapham, the Republican candidate for Lieutenant
Governor is going to hurt or help the ticket,
many cool-headed observers believe that when
Che votes are counted the entire Republican State
ticket will have been found to be elected but
that Enos Lapham's name will lead the poll.
IL has not been an uncommon thing, since y" The
Journal" has hung out its black flag in the shape
Of the scratched ticket to hear independents de-
clare that they will vote for Lapham if for no
one else on the ticket People realize-even
Democrats admit t-that Lapham has been un-
justly treated, and that unjust treatment would
be resented.
During the past year the Democrats have had
the office of Governor, and all State offices, in
their hands. including sheriffs and other court
officers and they have had good working ma
iorty in the House of representatives lhey
are obliged to go to the people On the record
made. The very first Legislative day the conduct
Of the Democrats disguised thousands OF people.
Hugh j. Carroll. one of the most obnoxious ma
chine politicians in the State cracked his whip
TO bring his mixed gathering Of Mugwump ana
Democratic adheTents into line General Bur,
dick, Of Newport, seconded CarroiIs efforts ana
inclegantly informed the Representatives that
they must come up to the trough, TO ider or no
fodder" In order to keep their waverng forces IN
line, Carroll and the other leaders had prepared
conspicuous black ballots, by means OF which
their candidate for Licutenant-GOvcrnOr was
chosen, and their candidate for Secretary OF state
was elected roll-cal instead of trusting to
secret ballot. machine politician was made
State Auditor complete list Of Democratic
sherifs was chosen, and in every Office high or
low, then filled by Republican, Democrat was
placed, except i'll the two principal court clerk
ships These were left undisturbctl because
there were no Democrats competent to fill them.
The sheriff Of Providence County who was tic
chairman Of the Democratic State Central Com
mittee, distinguished himself by trying to turn
out the $500 year crier of the court simply
because he a Republican The court Informed
the sheriff tha' the crier was under its Jurs-
has held the office for score OF years, should
remain. Then Pond made himself ridiculous
by threatening to use his influence to have the
court reOrganzed by the Legislature.
The Legislature held thee sessions and accom-
plishcd virtually nothing The spectacle pre-
sented by Carroll leader III the House and
by Lieutenant-Governor Honey as would-bc
leader and six-day talllcr in the Senate will not
soon be forgotten by voters who consider that
legislators should try to legislate for the whole
people rather than for the faction of party.
Democrats House
record as a party. In fact, Speaker German,
at the rcsubmssion hearing, openly declared that
they elected TO resubmt the prohibition
amendment When the vote came TO be taken,
there were four Democrats from the country dis
tricts who did not dare TO go back home with
such a record and they voted against reSubmlS-
sion and defeated it, The Democrats in both
the House and Senate showed themSc Ives to be
utterly incompetent TO perform even those things
that they were expressly elected TO perform.
That il did not enact much vicious legislation is
ONLY due to the Republican Senate, which stood
firmly for the people. And this Democratic House
wants to be reelected and have the choice OF
United States Senatorl
Governor Davis's first act to sign pardon
FOR BrocSway, the forger. He was then fooled
into appointing commission OF inquiry into
prison matters which commission had no standing
In law ana were forced TO decline TO serve. He
accepted every invitation to public dinner, no
matter how inappropriate II was Tor Governor
Of the State to attend Although elected by the
votes Of Methodist PrOhibitiOniSts lie ordered up n
tent at the Oak and Beach encampmcnt for the DIS
pensing Of liquors, contrary to the Will of the
BigadierGcneral The Governors public speeches
have been Of two kinds: their English was
either SO tortuOus as to be incomprehenslble, or
so elegant as to suggest the advantage of having
cOllcgc-bred private secretary. The eccentric1-
ties Of the Lieutcnant-GOvcrnOr have been SO
marked as to cause doubts sometimes as to his
thorough sanity, but he was sane enough TO de-
cline to run this year and give the voters
chance at him.
The State Auditor has shown a disposition to
lamper and thwart the enforcement of the pro-
II "A
of the Legislature had TO be called to straighten
out the matter
there an exception, has been of character TO
disgust the Independents and sensible Democrats,
and to incite the Republicans to patriotic efforts
TO regain the State and redeem its former pres
tgc as the home of able, wise and conservative
men. Those people who claim to be Republicans,
but who vote the Democratic ticket should look
the matter squarely in the face before casting ii
vote TO continue the present incompetent and
reckless government. =. 1t is important beyond
should be elected Governor rousng Repub-
lican victory in Rhode Island would give courage
TO the Republicans in every doubtful state and
90 much to aid in the greater victory this fan.
IL IS especially important that Republican Lieu
tenantGovenor should be elected, il for no other
reason because be has the vote of Senator and
might have it in his power TO elect Republican
United States Senator or to control the State
Senate in the interests of the Republican party.
General, because he is gentleman who would
lend credit TO the position, and who would per
lorin ms fulI duty IN helping to enforce the
prohbltory and all other laws. General Rogers
was conspicuousy gallant soldier
But IL is allimportant that the Legislature
should be Republican on Joint ballot The
present General Assembly stands ffty-eIght
Democrats TO ffty-one Republicans 1t is not
The victory or defeat Of the party in this State
winch IS alone concerned neither is il simply the
political fortunes of man which are at stake |
but 1t is the control of the United States Senate
The Republicans are placing the leading men
In the several communities in nomination3mcn
Of ability, intelligence, and experience. The |
Democrats '~c naming the present incumbents and |
others Of the same light weight. 1t is for the |
voters TO decide whether they desire to have
another year of legislation like the last and 10
turn the National Senate over to Democratic |
e0htfol, or TO turn out the present incompetents
erect an able, busness-iike Legislature, who will |
ilccl a .,- |