The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-24
PROVIDENCE in 1888.
A Short Condensed History Of the
Last Presidential Campaign.
HOW REPUBLICANS REJOICED.
When she Voting Was Over and tho Re-
turns Came in the Two Parties Had
Conflicting Emotions and Democrats
Felt Very Badiy-some or the Orators

The political campaign this year being
on somewhat the same lines as that of
1888 and having the same leading charac-
ters, some comment on the former cam
paign In RHODE ISLAND will be Of inter
est to everybody. The NEWS to-day pre-
sents condensed history of the cam
paign Of 'sS in 30 far as it relates to
PROVIDENCE
In 1888 the Democrats thought they had
the country by the ears but this year they
are not bubbling over with enthusiasm.
As soon as the news Of the Republican
nominations reached PROVIDENCE the
Young Mems Republican Club had flag
RHODE ISLAND being conceded as safe
Republican State the National Commit
tee OF neither Of the great parties con-
slider 1t worth while to pay much atten-
ton TO the campaign In this State. But
nevertheless RHODE ISLAND had a cam
citing.
There was but little done during the
months OF July and August by any OF the
parties toward winning over votes aud il
was not until the middle of September
mat the campaign was fairly under way.
Acohb thdt Situc the various W6rQ or
CARNATIONS held rallies and there was a
number OF flag raisings. The Collins
CiuD, a Democratic organization, by its
chairman, John NJ. brennan, aud secre-
tary. Dennis II. Sheahan, in compliance
with the request Of the executive COM
mittee Of the Democratic National Com
mittee, issued call to all citizens who
desired the election of Cleveland and
Thurman asking them to meet in their
several wards for the purpose of effecting
campaign organizations Cleveland and
Thurman clubs were formed in the
Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth,
Eighth, Ninth and Tenth wards.
On the evening Of September IL Music
Hall was filed TO Its utmost capacity by
enthusiastic Democrats who ratified the
nomination of Cleveland and Thurman.
The meeting was held under the auspices
OF the Collins Club. Ex-Gov. Davis, the
Hon. p. A. Collins, Gov. Robert S.
Greene, of New Jersey; the Hon. Henry
Watterson and President Brennan were
the speakers.
Up to that time during the fall the
Democrats seemed to have had everything
their own way but the monster mass
meeting held in Music Hall under the
auspices Of the Young Mems Republican
Club on the evening of September "a,
campaign meetings. The American Band
furnished music aud the speakers were
President Kendrick, Gov. iaft and the
Hon. Joseph l.. Barbour.
The Women Took Part.
The women OF RHODE ISLAND bore a
prominent part In the campaign of 1883.
About Oct. the following advertisement
appeared:
woMEN's REPUBLICAN CLUB.
To the Women Of Rhode Island:
You are respectfully invited to attend n
meeting for the purpose of organizing a
Womans Republican Club, under the au-
spices of the Woman's Republican National
Committee, at the rooms of the Republican
state Central Committee, Wilcox building,
A woman's Republican club was organ.
lied and proved q valuable factor in the
campaign.
About October the interest and excite
ment was at a nigh point. Every hall in
every portion of PROVIDENCE was secured
by some one of the ward clubs, and
orators of more or less renown expounded
the principles of their party. franklin
Is. Ham vigorously assaulted the Re
publican party" at a meeting in Odd
Fellows Hall in the glorious "1inth."
The Hon. Thomas B. Reed of Maine,
drew forth large attendance at Repub-
lican rally held In Infantry Hall, and the
Rhode Island Reform Club held series
OF meetings in interest OF the Democratic
candidates.
OF course the campaign would not have
been complete IL the woman suffragists
had not had hand in II. On Oct. III the
twenty-th third annual meeting of the
RHODE ISLAND Woman's Suffrage Associ-
alton was held
On October l2 the Republican State and
District Convention was held in Black
stone hall. ID. Russell Brown, Lyman
Is. Goff, John Nicholas Brown and Allen
Reynolds were chosen as candidates for
presidential electors. Henry j. Spooner
was nominated for congressman from the
First district. On October Is Warren O.
Arnold was nominated for congressman
from the Second district.
The Democratic candidates for presi-
Dental electors were Isaac Bell, Jr., Jesse
Metcalf, Daniel B Pond and Gen. Olney
Arnold. Oscar Lapham and William &.
Baker were the nominees for Congress.
The Democratic Convention was held on
October 16
The candidates for presidential electors
and for Congress having been placed in
the field the campaign furore began.
The colored citizens Of PROVIDENCE
were most energetic In their work, and
with but the exception Of a few they
worked for the Republican party. On
the night Of October 10 the colored Re-
publicans of the Seventh ward had flag
raising. and on the same night the Fourth
Ward Republican Club held a parade and
fiag raising and afterwards banquet
and rally.
DIR. William Everett OF Quincy, and
the Hon. Harvey N. Shepard of Boston,
were among the speakers at the Reform
Club meeting In Music Hall on the even
ing Of October %.
On the evening OF October "a, the Young
Mems Republican Club held n big rally
at Music Hall. Mrs. }. Ellen Foster and
Col. John G. Wyman and others spoke.
On Oct 30 the Collins Club held n
Democratic rally In Infantry Hall. There
were not any speakers OF note
On Friday, Oct. 81, the State Prohibi-
tion Convention was held, Gen. Clinton
Is. Fisk, the Prohibition candidate for
President, addressed the meeting.
"We never ran any risk
When we chose Brother Fisk"
sang the Glee Club, and everyone assent
ed, for there was no possible chance of
of the general being elected.
IL was big meeting, however, and
very enthusiastic one.
A Big Harrison Dem monstration.
Excitement was at its highest pitch.
In less than n week the campaign
wonld be over. At that time there were