The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-02
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soluto.y osyo... .:.s reach OF the people or
their executive
II. indeed. public affairs are In this republio
to be continued In shc hands OF the people,
how under Republican policy, can this VIII be
made effectivef Commission after commission
has been entrusted with executive power the
members OF which have fixed tenure and who
can 10 reached neither by any popular vote
nor through removal by the governor. You
cannot, through your vote or through your
executive, punish these irresponsible execu-
tives, even for the worst wrongdoing.
Not satisfied with making captive the bust
ness OF the commonwealth. the Republican
party proposes to wrench the hands Of the
people from the control even OF their home in
ssrtsts Even the police power, the protec-
ton OF home. lie, property. Is being now
progressively removed from the reach OF the
people, and the hands Of the law are not the
hands OF the people or their servants bat OF
independent, autocratic, undemCcratic and ir-
responsible masters
Together with this system has gone the pol
Icy OF creating powerful corporations 70 make
prout from the necessities of the people.
Your streets, built at the expense Of hard
earned millions, are turned over without com
pensation 10 corporations created by the state,
which are now organized together To with
stand the just demands OF the public and to
meet by the unlimited expenditure OF money
citizens upon their own legislature for pro-
tective measures. Not only have these com
binations obtained apparently complete con-
troll OF Legislative action, but they have used
the Republican party policy 20 entrench them
selves behind the adamantine walls Of ire
sponsible commissions
lbeg TO ask this one pregnant question: As
against these policies, powers and combina-
tons, who represents the rights Of the people2
Where is the defender against the encroach.
ments OF power2
Alas, there Is none, and venture TO assert
that there will be none until the platform this
day adopted shall have given to the Democ ratio
party the control of the legislature and there
with the remedy which this day we offer TO the
people
Ia the days when the plebs Of Rome tri-
urnphed over an aristocracy OF wealth and
family, an Office was devised which should for
ever shield and maintain the rights and privi.
leges Of the people. This Office held by
one who was called the tribune OF the people.
He was elected, as the historian Gibbon tells
us, 10 defend the oppressed, TO pardon Of
fenses, TO arraign the enemies of the people,
and when he adjudged IL necessary 10 stop by
single word the whole machine of govern
ment. This official was elected by the com
mons. He had no robes of office. no official
chair and no troop OF lctors, but his person
was sacred he was the court of final appeal,
and his doors must be open 10 suppliants by
night as well as by day.
There In now no tribune to whom the people
Of this commonwealth can appeal, but we can
at least give TO the governor, who Is elected
by the whole people, the power, through re-
sponsible subordinates, 20 stand responsible
for the redress OF grievances and the assertion
Of the Just rights of the public.
With the gisnt forces which now under a
Republican administration stand opposed TO
popular rights 10 is time that at least some
wpr n N ed wi Wa hall
obtain this champion OF the public rights then
we may proceed well organized TO the reform
oflegislative abuses
We propose today legislation which shall
bring back some, at least. of the peoples right
to control their own highways, over which
they, their goods and their comforts are now
conveyed by private corporations. We insist
that these private bodies shall no longer be
conducted merely for private profit, but with
full accountability TO the public for honest All
ministration, just compensation and the high.
est efficiency. Until these corporations are put
upon the basis Of justice 10 themselves and TO
the community, they will be regarded by the
people as enemies not frenus they will i'm.
peril pure government, and not maintain 10.
Reduce these corporations to their proper
basis public servants, and not, as now, pub
lie masters, and the arm OF the lobby will be
parayzed and the fruitful seeds of legislative
corruption will wither and die. With such
purpose, Democrats OF Massachusetts. with
such a plan honestly devised, we ask discus
sion with our opponents and for the ultimate
approval of the people.
The Platform.
The platform which was presented to
the convention contains short, incisive
reference 10 the A. p. A, decrying its In.
huence and existence
Another plank declares in favor OF the
gold standard for government moneys
and praises President Cleveland and Sec
retary Carlisle for their courage and per.
sistence In stirring up the country TO an
appreciation of the financial situation
when the leaders OF the Republican party
paid no attention to the situation.
The tariff plank says that the effect of
the new tariff law has just begun to APP
pear, and asks the people TO withhold their
Judgment until the whole favorable con-
sequences of the new statute have become
known.
Still another plank asks for legislation
to make the corporations which hold pub
lie franchises, railroads and the like more
under the control of the state This part
of the platform insists that the people
ought to know more about the standing OF
such corporations and that some official
Of the state should be given power TO in.
vestigate their affairs and tell their true
standing.
The Banquet.
The Young Mems. Democratic club of
Massachusetts, gave banquet at the
Lincoln House last evening at which
about 200 members aud guests were pres.
ent. The president OF the club, Charles
+. Stratton Of Milford, presided, and after
dinner addresses were made by Mr.. STRAIT
ton, Nathan Matthews, Jr, of Boston,
John X. Russell of Leicester, John w.
Corcoran of Clinton, Josiah Quincy, John
+. Fitzgerald OF Boston, Ex-Governor
Russell, Assistant Secretary of the Treas.
ury Hamlin and George +. Williams
assssass