Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-25
the SEVENTH AMENDMENT

The attack that has been made on GER
tain prominent candidates on the Dome-
cratic ticket for the General Assembly
from our city, and which is harped upon
day after day as though II were a venal
sin--the charge that when these gentlemen
were in the Assembly few years ago
they voted against the resolution to sub
NIT article VII OF the Constitution of the
state to the peoples not only an unjust
charge, but when the circumstanc ces sur
rounding the vote are understood, pales
into nothingness and vanishes into thin
air. In fact, instead OF being condemned
for the stand they took, the Democratic
members OF the now famous Assembly OF
1887 are to be praised, for their course was
one in defence OF the rights Of their con-
stitucnts, In whose interests they were
sent there and whose privileges they were
bound to protect.
men voted against the resolution TO sub
nit the Seventh Amendment to the peo-
pie. But before doing so they saw that
there would be majority in Its favor.
These gentlemen, who were eager for It's
passage, had labored earnestly for this
slight boon In the extension of the suf.
frage and lad wrung this pittance, as IL
were, from a hostile Legislature, were not
forgetful OF those who sent them there.
An extension of the suffrage they want
I'd, IL was true, but what they were offered
was an extension OF the suffrage at tho
cost OF sacrificing and disfranchising the
large body of their own constituents.
What should they do, stand up for the
privileges OF those who elected them to
represent them In the Legislative halls OF
the State or vote for the amendment and
thus rob hundreds of upright citizens Of
those privileges and rights TO obtain
which every voter is so eager and so just
~ proud. True, indeed, II was a gallant
little band that kept up that unequal fight.
But 1t was worthy OF them and they stood
by the principles OF Democracy and fought
for good cause in defence OF their con-
stituents with persistcncy and energy
and zeal worthy, II possible, OF greater
and a nobler cause.
And then these honey-tongued politi-
clans, the tricksters and jugglers with
words, these tenth-ratc statesmen come
forward and tell the voters OF the State
that they did it, That is simply giving
the effect before the cause. Lot them II
they dare tell the cause leading up to the
effect. There is history to the Seventh
Amendment which people ought to know.
That amendment was wrung from hos
tile Legislature not for any love OF the
people but because they feared the peo.
pie.
But even then, grudgingly a. II was
given, the hand OF the trickster and the
jugglcr Is seen through II all, and they
reasoned that by disfranchising the
voterS of Pswtucket and Newport thcy
would gain as much as they would lose
in the towns throughout the state. So
the trick was sprung and at this late day
these cunning rascals try to cover uy
their tracks. Tho body OF the wolf
though, is seen under the sleeps clothing
But these unworthy and senscles
attacks will avail nothing. Both Mr.
Robinson and Mr.. Carroll have beer
sighting too long on the side Of th'
brcadwinncrs Of the State to be injurc,
in their estimation by such attacks a
this. Whenever any candidate on tn
other side can present a better record II
fight for the rights OF bis constitusnt
and uphold Just and an UPRIGHT ,ssus'
Is him sbev Il Az II is, thess gsntis