The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-16
RHODE ISLAND IN NOVEMBER.


The Democratic press of the country
has hesitated between two courses in dis
cussing the Republican victory in Rhode
Island. The first and, we must admit,
most usual comment is: 1--WE never
expected to carry Rhode Island" The
second and most interesting is: "We
can carry Rhode Island in the fall if we
pull together"
1t is the duty of the Republicans to
take the most serious view of the
strength of their adversaries, to avoid
over-confidence, to prepare to use every
honorable effort to win by safe margin
in the conflict that is coming.
We do not admit that Rhode Island is
doubtful State, but we must act as if
it We're.
No amount of frenzied activity just
before election can make up for neglect
and apathy beforehand. We must
make this campaign of education and
leave untried no means which can rem
der more likely Republican success.
In gaining converts to our cause per-
sonal endeavor and the work of news
papers and magazines are of equal i'm
portance. What could be more con-
vincing than II. N. F.'s" mastery arti-
cles in the Tribune upon Rhode Islands
debt to the tariff, or the keen and pun
gent arguments of the Press and Re
corder of New York, the Advertiser and
Journal of Boston? 1t is the first duty
of Republicans to secure for Republican
papers, and especially for their
home organs, the widest circulation
possible. The steady growth of
Democratic sentiment eliminating in
the disaster of 1890 is attributable very
largely to the fact that the great metro
politan newspapers are so often of the
Democratic stripe. Matters have be-
come better in this respect with the
recent founding of the NEWS in Provi-
dence, the smaller paper of the same
name in Boston and the Press and Re
corder in New York. The latter city
ought to have a strong evening Republi-
can paper, but the Eastern States are
now well supplied and it requires only
the enthusiastic support of the papers that
do tell the truth about things political to
put the Republican party fully on par
with the Democratic in this respect.
Personal influence is power quite as
important as the press. The Republic
cans of Rhode Island are intelligent and
thoughtful. They know what the tariff
has done for them and for the country.
They know the danger of an inflated
currency. They shouldn't be afraid Of
talking politics" of personal argument
and explanation, of appeals to reason
and experience. They should organize
for more effective work than individuals.
can do. They should form clubs, in which
the social element of mans nature is not
neglected. A Republican club open six
evenings i'm the week is much more
powerful than one which meets but
once month to hear speeches.
The great struggle is not so far of
that idleness is now excusable. II is
for Republicans to be thinking about
these things. Begin early, and victory
is all the easier. We cannot carry Texas
or Missouri. We can make Rhode
Islands protest against ruin very EN-
-pAatie. For IL Is ruin which threatens
us very near in the event of Democratic
success. A manufacturing State cannot
survive free trade unharmed.
Republicans in this State do not need
to be told TO get together. There is har-
mony already. What they do need is to