The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-08
COL. HONEY'S MEssAGE-PART 9.

The NEWS is happy to announce that
it has completed its perusal of the mar
vellous manifesto which Colonel Honey
foisted upon the Judiciary Committee
and thrust upon the astonished House
last Tuesday. THE News hastens to
accord it high position among the
freaks of imagination and feasts of
humor for which the Rump House
has become notorious. IL will be
regarded in no other light by those who
are familiar with the chicanery, eccen-
tricity and sophistry of the Newport
politician who conceived it. But it be-
ing possible that the reading public who
are unacquainted with its author may
regard it more seriously than it deserves.
THE News feels justified in giving it
that consideration which is generally
accorded only to those public men whose
political sanity is without question.
In general the document is composed
of few incontrovertible facts linked
together by N mass Of misrepresenta-
tion and half truths. 1t is written os-
tensibly for the purpose Of supplying a
reason why the House should not read
Governor Browns message. That reason
is furnished in short extract which
will be conceded without argument.
"A message from the Governor"
says Colonel Honey, sis con-
templated neither by the con-
stitution nor laws of the State" He
might have gone further and stated
that it is matter OF custom and pre-
cedent, and that it is neither obligatory
upon the Governor to prepare message
nor is the Senate or House obliged to
listen to one. In this instance the Gov
ernor wisely followed the usual custom,
the Senate gave his opinions respectful
attention, and the people have read his
recommendations in THE News. 1t nei-
ther detracts from his credit nor dignity
to have revolutionary Rump House re-
fuse to read it. and the disposition that
body may make of it is probably mat
ter Of indifference to him as it certainly
is TO the general public.
So far the report OF the committee is
but the assertion of its peculiar right,
to most unprejudiced minds it
is of singular bad taste. Goaded, how
ever, by Colonel Honey's thirst for gore,
the committee has permitted itself to be
led into bitter and disgraceful personal
attack upon the Governor, an attack
which has no bearing whatever upon
the authority of His Excellency to issue
a message or the privilege of the House
TO treat it as ii pleases. The object of
the attack is evidently TO remove from
Colonel Honey and his cohorts and
place upon the shoulders of the Governor
The responsibility for the present crisis.
The report charges His Excellency with |
before the last May session |
10 lay the foundation of plot to per-
retuate himself in power. It alleges
hat his first step was to commit fraud |
upon the Supreme Court by asking the
Judges whether certain ballots cast at |
Ihe jamestown election should or should |
not be counted. II is not explained |
why, If the question was fraudulental,
he knowledge and wisdom Of the Su-
preme Court was not sufficient to enable
1 to resent the fraud" but that is i'm
1t will be remembered that the James
own election was one of tho series of
Dy-contests upon which the political
OF tha General Assembly |
depended. At the second election in
hat town the moderator. Democrat.
n accordance with law. refused 10
count six ballots marked with crosses
against the blank spaces. As a result
no candidate received majority OF the
votes and the Republican member was
entitled TO hold over. The Democratic
eaders at once raised cry
hat the votes should have been
counted for the Democratic candidate,
md threatened that should they obtain
control of The House the Republican
would be un ated. In consequence of
This threat Governor Brown was in
iuced by interested citizens TO ak the
Court for an Interpretation OF
ihe law on that point. The ques-
ion was not unlike many Others
hat had been submitted by previous
Governors ON the intricacies Of the bal
OF law. The answer Of the court sus-
aimed the moderator's action.