The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-04
THE ELECTION FRUIT.


feel amazingly well satisfied with the
result Of yesterdays election in the State
VI Rhode Island.
We have, by tremendous majority,
given our endorsement Of an efficient,
conservative, and thoroughly admirable
administration of our States
affairs. We have elected to the
highest Office in our commonwealth a
gentleman of notable attainments as
citizen, culture and undoubted ability,
for the exercise of the executive duties.
We have chosen to represent us in the
State House body of men representing
in large measure the best of our bust
ness and professional life. And we have
accomplished this in msnner so quiet
and after a campaign of such calmness
and dignity, and by vote so impressive,
that no election that we can recall can
be claimed to have better represented
the voice of the thoughtful, conservative
citizenship of Rhode Island-the very
spirit of self-respecting business
like people capable under the con-
ditions Of this remarkable cam
paign Of expressing their deep inter
est and concern in public affairs, their
appreciation of good government and
going to the polls to perform their duty
as suffragists without being routed out
by drum and bugle.
In th.~ fiO-
ures of the election and also give some
comparisons, taking occasion here only
to remark that the election, in point OF
the strength of the vote brought out, was
a notable one, even without considering
the amazingly quiet prosecution OF the
campaign. The figure justified the
opinion that Rhode Island citizens are
not dependent on either noise or bun
combe to bring them to the polls for the
expression of earnest and deep seated
convictions. The position of the Repub-
lican party, not only in local affairs, but
in national affairs, commands the support
of good citizens, and the vote yesterday
demonstrated that large majority of
such citizens are disposed to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity to express
themselves. Despite the fact that regis
tration had fallen off throughout the
State big Republican vote has been
cast and very fair total vote-the COM
parative reduction of the latter be-
ing simply due to the failure
of Democrats to vote for reasons which
1t is unnecessary to analyze.
1t is fact that the vote which gave
the Republican candidate for Governor
a plurality of 1O,9O1 was. with three
recorded exceptions, the biggest vote
ever cast in the State. Nobody expected
that it would equal the vote
cast for 1894, when the whole State,
taking the first opportunity offered
to any suffragists in the nation,
rose up in indignant protest against the
CLEVELAND administration, nor that Of
the presidential year. The figures, 49,
763, however, closely approach the vote
cast in the intensely lively campaign Of
the year preceding, the great LADD-
DAVIS fight when both parties called out
their full force and made tremendous
fight to point the way to the big presi-
Dental canvass then impending.
AS matter of fact, too, with the ex-
ception of the vote twice recorded for
Governor BROWN. the Republican vote
was the biggest ever cast in the State.
and would have elected Colonel LIPPITT
over the tremendous Democratic vote
cast in those two big elections. 1t was
bigger by 2401 than the Republican
vote cast for the Congressional
candidates last November. The
Republican vote Of the city Of Prcvi-
dence was bigger by s31 than was given
the Congressional candidates and only
$40 less than was drawn out for the
Mayoralty candidates in the exciting
municipal contest last November.
The election indicated no lack of In
terest and enthusiasm on the Republi-
can side. The Democratic vote alone
fell. The Republicans cast good
vote, and the Republican State CEN
trail committee and the Republican
city committee Of Providence
evidently labored as enthusiastic
cally and assiduously as II they had
had big fight on their hands. The re-
suit, we repeat, must be most gratifying
as demonstrating that the citizen
ship that has more than
sky-rocket sort of interest in public af-
fairs is ever ready to come and vote for
the endorsement of good men and
measures. And the larger proportion of
that sort Of citizenship is found in the
Republican marty