The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-01
The FREE PARLIAMENT.
A Varied Assortment Of Letters from
the News" Readers.
A MUGWUMP LIFTS HIS VOICE.
The Principles OF the Party Of Protest
Explained-The Colored vote-The
Dyer Memorial-A Question Of Art


PROVIDENCE, Jan. 90.
To the Editors Of the Neus:
To use parliamentary phrase Z" / rise to
question of privilege" The NEwsiu in
and with age it's dislike has developed
into the wormwood and gall of unrelent-
ing detestation. Being myself mug
wump-God save the name--a common
every day mugwump and constant
reader of your paper, have been much
and your jeers at this political body
which is after all only body as it recog-
nizes no head. The worm turned when
Mr.. Blaine stepped on its tail in 'S4. /
might add it turned from the errors OF its
ways and as chr, sails rolled itself up in
a cocoon OF silent protest until IL came
forth full fiedged mugwump. That is
why say / have been entertained, de-
lighted by your satires. etc, and am
sure my brother mugwump are equally
pleased as they read similar screeds
In partisan papers. Yet for the
life of us we cannot tell what it is all
about. Whv are we SO honored? We are
but dust. Why are we so advertised
Our power is naught. Why are we so
hated? We have done no party wrong.
The Mugwump has never asked more than
to be let alone, to go his peaceful, nnos-
tentatious way to the polls and cast his
little ballot like a patriot. He asks no
favor of any party, of any caucus o: OF
any man. His bitterest enemy cannot ac-
cuse him of being corrupt. He controls
and is controlled by no machine and by no
party boss. Yet he is not bashful. for
when occasion offers he has his say and he
says it boldly, as an American should,
without fear aud expecting no favor. He
believes in certain cardinal principles
which have recommended themselves to
his reason by years of careful thought.
His politics are not ancestral, religious or
partisan. They are his own. His ideas
are also his own. They are politically like
no other mans. His motto is principle
before everything" and he lives up to 1t.
The Mugwump may be right or he may be
wrong, but right or wrong he is hon
est in his belief and knows the physiology
of his professions.
Why then should the partisan papers SO
unrelentingly assail him 2 There is but
one answer. Since the days when the
Green and the Blues fought for suprem-
acy in the streets of Roman Constantine
pie the faction which could not side with
one or the other great parties has been the
common prey OF both. Every great party
is held together by sentiment not by
reason. The masses are Republicans or
Democrats because their fathers were or
their leaders so direct. They cry aloud in
the streets and the cry being loud and
lusty jars against the heavens. There
fore they are great and all conquering.
They hear B4aiH s-farrfc and they shout
mulutOuSly. Inc name OF CltNtidiu
sets them wild also with enthusiasm.
Like David b. Hill they pompously assert
81 am a Democrat" or like Headsman
Clarkson affirm Il am a Republican"
The much sworn at and abused Mug
wump is hated for the very reason that
he won't yell with "De gang" The pup
pet show of Western triumphal process
sion fails to enthuse him and he is called
a rebel and a cynic because tawdry dis
play has for him no attraction. Yet for
all the Mugwump is laboring for the good
of his country He is the leaven ut work
in the political dough. He sets stand
ard of mind above matter, of philosophy
over enthusiasm. hail at him, jeer at
him, taunt him as you please and In the
measure that it eases up on your spleen,
but the Mugwump is here to stay. He
represents the higher civilization OF po-
litics, and even to-day he holds the bal
ance of power in this great republic. Is
that why you fear him most He can't
be brought or bought into line eb He
will vote as he pleases. Well il is very,
very unkind, unfeeling fellow this Mug
wump to he sure. +. w. ,.