Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-19
THE NORTH sMITHF,ELD CASE.

THE NORTH sMITHFiELD CASE.
II Is with singular audscity that our down
town evening contemporary takes us to
task for our comments on the North
Smithfield election. II is one of those
attacks which when examined does not
amount to much after all. We had de-
clared that "it cost the Republican man
ayers thousands OF dollars to carry the
little town OF Ncr,h Smithfield and
bribery was OF the most open nature"
This must have been either true or false.
The same information no doubt came to
our contemporary for IL does not deny the
charge; 1t doesn't say that money was not
used in North Smithfield and that bribery
was not OF the most open nature. II adj
mits all that, and then says "it cost the
Democrats a good deal of money n ot to be
worse defeated" That Is one OF "tu
quoque" arguments of which we hear so
much spoken. 1t is simply an attempt to
attract attention from the sins Of the
Republicans by calling attention to al
q legged sins OF the Democrats.
We deny that any ilegitimate use OF
money was made by Democrats In this
election for what there is OF the Republic
can party isn't purchasable for a few dol
lars by Democrats-they can get more
from their own side. II wasn't the use
OF money that kept the Democrats from
meeting worse defeat. 1t was that better
and higher quality In man that kept them
from succumbing to the wiles OF the dew
II, the temptation that money always
brings-that conscientious feeling that
party Is above everything. 1t was simply
the poor wavering unfortun nates-forceless
and nerveless-that fell and assisted the
Republicans in carrying the day.
And 1t isn't the first time that Republic
cans have used money either. As long
ago as when Henry b. Anthony was
elecIeu TO tDe bniteu oldtes Eoehate,
II was money that defeated Gov.
Hoppin for that office. The use OF
money in the election for Governor
OF 1875 is notorious. In fact, whenever
money can be used the leaders Of the Re-
publican party know it and do not hesi-
tate to use II. II people are corrupt 1t is
the Republican party that has made 1t so.
When the legislature meets at Newport,
and II the question comes on the unseat-
ing OF the gentleman from North Smith
field, the question will come not on what
other people did, but was his election OBJ
tainod by fair or foul means? The "tu
quoque' argument will not work there.
1t is question OF purity In elections, and
as our contemporary admits that they
won by means of money and bribery and
corruption, 1t is perhaps foregone con-
clusion what will be done with this gen.
tleman. We already have pre-
cedent for unseating obnoxious members
in the late Newport case which was as
disreputable deal as ever took place in
the State, and II that case is followed, our
contemporary need not complain, for the
Republicans have prepared for themselves
their own bed and now let them lie on II.
II ever a set OF pot house politicians were
bent on perpetuating themselves in
power; II ever legislation was rushed
through without regard to decency or or
der, simply for partisan purposes, our
contemporary, to learn 1t, needs only to
glance at the records OF the present legis-
lature. 1t can only cry out against what
Democrats will do in a speculative sort OF
way. We protest against Republican rule
as 1t is, which is ruinous and disgusting.
This is something tangible. Our contem-
porary's cry is simply speculation. Its
protest Is useless, but perhaps the best
possible for It's side, under the circum-
stances.