The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-24
AT The GARFIELD CLUB.
A Big Dinner in Pawtucket Last
Evening.
LOTS OF ENTHUSIASM SHOWN.
Letters f1om whitelaw Reid and Gen.
ciarkson, Addresses by Gov. Brown,
Henry Cabot Lodge and Others = A
Great success for tho Club.

ward TO with great anticipation by the
members of the club and other citizens
interested In its welfare and that OF the
party which it represents, took place In
Music Hall last evening. Five long
tables. the entire length Of the hall, were
spread, accommodations having been
made for $50 persons. The invited guests
were seated at q table on the platform
and among the latter were His Excel
len cy, Gov. Brown, the Hon. Henry Cabot
Lodge of Massa chusetts. ii. A. Thomas.
secretary Of the Norfolk Club OF Boston,
Jud ge Rufus S. Pickett OF the New
Haven Republican League, A. M. Han
cock OF Maryland, III. A. L. Potter, Jr.,
secretary OF the State Republican League,
George A Littlefeld, Esq. Of Providence,
and others.
After an invocation Of divine blessing
by the Rev. Theodore Is. Foster the excel
lent spread prepared by Gelb e. Norton.
caterers, received che undivided attention
of all present This feature of the pro-
gram disposed OF, the doors to the gallery
of the house was thrown open. and a
Roodly number Of citizens availed them
selves of tho opportunity to give ear to
the expounding Of Republican principles.
President Tiepke called the gathering
to order and explained the absence OF
Congressman Boutelle and Simonds by
dispatches received from them. The
first-named gentleman expressed his ina
bility TO be present, while the latter had
started, but his train was SO late that he
knew he could not arrive in time. Sec
retary Charles K. Harrison then read let
ters from a number of persons who had
been invited. but were unable to be pres
ent. A letter was read from the Hon.
Whitelaw Reid, in which he said:
"The necessity of earnest individual. as
well as organized, efforts for arousing
voters and bringing them to the polls
was never greater. The very freedom Of
this canvass from vituperation and per-
sonal assault increases the need for such
effort, since these things have in all past
campaigns led to excitement; and excite
ment has been depended on to bring out
the vote.
"The magnitude OF the changes pro-
posed by the Democratic platform should
be pressed home upon conservative bust
ness men. not only by your organization,
but by every individual member within
the entire range Of his personal influence.
THE chief desire Of intelligent business
men, when no overwhelming necessity
demands change, is always to let well
enough alone. The character of the
changesnow demanded, il properly urged,
same end; for those changes are pecu-
liarly startling in manuf, .cturing COM
munities like those of RHODE ISLAND.
They embrace change from the
American protective tariff system to the
English revenue tariff system. with, of
course, the natural result Of English
wages--a change from the present system
of reciprocity to the closed markets with
our Central and Southern American
neighbors which preceded it--and q
change from the present honest money,
aud satisfactory system of national
bank note currency, to dollars OF varying
values and the old barbaric confusion of
State bank issues.
'RHoDE ISLAND, which at its last cleo
tion SO splendidly vindicated the labors
OF its distinguished Senator's and its own
Republican faith, needs olly such eff
cient effort as active Republican organi-
cations can give to make surs that her
influence in the pending contest shall be
cast in accordance with her history and
her interests"
A long communication was also read
from Gen. j. 5. Clarkson. Gen. Clarkson
said:
am certain that the League Republi-
cans of RHODE ISLAND, the same as the
young men in the league everywhere,
while being as desirous rs any of the re-
formers for letting the past take care of
the past, will still insist that now and
always Republican must have the same
right TO vote, and to have his vote counted
anywhere In this land, as a Democrat.
The Democratic party, except for its
disfranchisement of three quarters of a
million Of Republicans In the South,
simply because they are black, and except-
lug that 1t controls the vicious and ignor-
ant votes in the large cities in the North,
would scarcely have a place in the cam
paign.
Therefore, while Republicans must
stand firmly for the maintenance of the
systems of protection aud reciprocity, and
stand equally firm for sound banking
and sound currency, they will. ] am sure,
he equally firm in demanding that every
American voter shall be given his rights
as citizen and be protected in those
rights as a voter.
The League in no state in the Union
has made better record than that of
RHODE ISLAND. The work of its presi-
dent mas been systematic, intelligent,
comprehensive ana large-minded. / con-
gratulate the League on its work, and
successful a president.
A resolution WAS then adopted, express
Ing sympathy with President Harrison In
his present affiiction which he is under.
going during the afflictlou of his wife.
Coy. Brown was made an honorary
member or tue club, and in few words
in past elections.
The Hon. Henry CABOT Lodge was then
introduced, who, after a few introduc-
tory remarks upon the near approach OF
election and nothingness OF Democratic
campaign material referred to the coming
election.
The issues, no said, were never so
plainly drawn rs now. We know just
what to expect from the Democratic
party. IL has given out two views Of the
proper disposition of the finance ques-
tion, but think it is important tha. wc
should accept the issues as the Demo-
cratic party has made them. and hold
them to their declarations. The speaker
then referred to the Democratic proposi-
tion To return To old State banking sys-
TEN, aud said: "The Democratic party
wants radical changes and the contend
ing thought Is, why should these changes
be madef
What argument has been advanced to
show that our banking system should be
oyerthrownf Why should we turn back
TO system which was thrust aside by in
telligent men nearly century ago But
behind 1t lies the danger for the imitation
OF the state banks, for the system OF
turning back to the old state bank sys-
tenn means this. IL the great instrument
OF exchange is deranQed IL means de-