The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-31
a O'clock.
WERE OUTWITTED.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE L

grand committee auu eiecting otato ohi
GERS, but one course remains open to
Governor Brown. For him to allow any
political party to obtain possession OF the
state government by acts clearly illegal
would be to violate his oath TO preserve
the laws aud enforce them. Governor
Brown and the Republican senate since
Monday night have no course left open
but TO defeat the plans OF the Democrats
by refusing TO join i'm grand commit tee.
On all sides are found the jubilant and
smiling faces OF the Republicans. and on
all sides the msst favorab e comment Is
heard on the dignifed aud manly stand
by the governor ia the fight which Is
now SO nearly ended. The Republicans
could not have piannel the po ollcy OF the
Democrats TO suit them better II Jtey
had been invited to do 50 10y Colonel
Honey 1t is evidently a Ilme when III
the critical mon ent the Democratic
party has lost ,ts judgment. In unseat-
ing Eepiesenta ives Landers and ioXsey
it has attacked the Republican party at
polui where it is impregnable aud where
the IN st elaborate preparations Tor de-
fence have been made.
There was ut n point male in the ar
guments OF Mr. Honey that WAS not al
ready known. His references To the de-
cisions in the English courts by Llrd
Coleridge 10 the decisions OF TIE Yer
mont aud New Hampshire legislatures
were all ell orations OF the argument
presented by Stna or Comstock in the
grand committee when he made the re-
port on the congressional elections. aud
acknow lodged that the counting com
NIT ee had counted ballots marked with
cross below the squure opposite the
name OF "A candidate.
Re Jresentative Aliens reply quoting
the Rhode Island court opinions on the
sse was a splendid vindictlion OF the
position OF his party. He gave notice
10 the Democrat that they were violat-
ing tie laws of the state. They were
violating their solemn oaths tf office. the
sound of which had scarcely died from
their lips, and he charged upon them che
consequences OF their own actions.
What the Result Will he.
The Democrats are fully aware that
the prospects of David s Baker are not
glittering. They realizs at last that
even with such majority OF the grand
committee as they have manufactured
they are poweriess. IL would be usele -
Tor them To meet Ia an illegal grand
commitlee and eject Mr.. Baker governor.
10 CT that would be impJss BILE.
O.le reason for its impOsslDility Is that
the law prescribes that the grand COM
nittee shHff consist of II majority Of
the members of general assembly, but OF
a majority OF the members OF each
branch OF The general assembly. That Is
the plain law. Suppose they do violate
the letter or the law and meet in com
mittee, and fortify their nc ion by the de-
cislon of the Uuited States senate in the
case of the Senator from Da ,ota, who
was elected by "rump" convention or
nm A " Al al "A "a
Grant then all this aud they have ac-
complished nothing. There is "a consti-
tutional barrier. The grand committee
knows nothing officially of the election
for governor until it has counted the bal
lot. It cannot even officially declare that
there has been no election. 1t must have
the ballots, count them and announce
the number of votes cast for each candi-
date. But the secretary of state is the
custodian of those ballots. The cousti-
tuition makes him their legal guardian.
Not even the supreme court can get them
away from him. He is authorize To de-
liver them only to the grand committee
In person.
If he delivers them to the Democratic
''rump" grand committee he will be
violating the constitution, for sucn a
grand committee cannot legally organ
ix. under the present laws. He has no
option In the matter. HIS duty is plain
AID there is not the slightest DOUBT that
he will retain the ballots until "a grand
committee orxanized by majority of
each OF the branc les Of the general as
sembly calls for them.
So the rump grand committee OF the
Democratic members, should one be
organized, eau 20 through any forms 1t
sees lit. Any action regarding the elec-
tion OF state officers will be entirely
without value or force.
1t Is believed, however, that the Demo-
era will not attempt to organize a
trump" grand committee, bat will grace
fully take the medicine of their defeat.
1t is rumored that they realize their
defeat and will make no further fight,
but the rumor is not strongly corro-
berated.
One of the party leaders in conversa-
tion confidentialiy remarked. 'The Jig
is up" We cau't do anything. We are
beaten at every point. l an. going to
compromise matters.
''One side will agree TO elect the plu-
rality candidates II the Republicans will.
That Will give us tue governor. attorney
neral aud lieutenat governor. 1t will
give the Republicans the secretary OF
state aud the general treasurer"
The one who offered the compromise is
not likely to fiud any one To accept his
terms, although he is one of the shre yd-
est leace S of the party. The Repub-
licans have the Offices by right aud they
Will not throw them away.