The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-12
CLEANSING PROVIDENCE.

In another column we print COM
munication from appointment and highly
respected citizen of Providence, whose
name we are not at present at liberty to
publish, relative to work which these
interested in local reform may yet find
1t at their hands to do. The letter tells
nothing new but it relates TO matters
the calling attention to which can
scarcely be reiterated too often or too
strongly. 1t is not delectable subject
to discuss but like most offensive
things it is best treated by graphing
with it boldly aud without mincing
matters-which is the way our esteemed
correspondent takes hold of it.
Our correspondent points out specific
evils that demand reform and calls upo n
The NEWS to undertake the task, fiatter-
iHgly quoting the successful result of the
effort of this newspaper to drive out the
horse gamblers as an augury of success
in any similar work we may undertake.
Our correspondent thus imposes upon us
task that we should be only too glad
To take up just SO soon as we might feel
assured that public opinion is of dis
position to give its attention to this
matter and assault the evils complained
of with that measure of vigor that only
can promise successful prosecution.
We view this thing in an eminently
u<,ts nj L.. a.
plead that The News hesitates to enter
upon good fight unless it is sure OF
success. BY no means that. No crusade
ever undertaken by newspaper was
less promising at the outset than the
warfare waged by The NEWS on the
horse gamblers, for instance. That as
sault was, at its beginning, quite gener-
ally thought to be as preposteruus aud
fruitless as it was aSdacious. But what
We mean is this: Efforts for any
reform. as suggested by our correspon-
dent, should be first carefully considered,
and then entered upon with full ap-
probation of the difficulties to be en-
countered, "a full knowledge of the
forces at command for the assault,
plan Of campaign comprehensively
and intelligently organized, and firm
resolve to keep up the fight until the last
redoubt had been carried, or until it is
found that the evil is impregnable
beyond the force Of public opinion to
destroy it.
1t is not altogether the
fear of defeat that impels
the good general to restrain his
army from, an engagement, so much as
it is the realization that an assault made
aud lost only leaves the enemy stronger,
his intrenchments firmer, his pres
tige and power greater. Vice and
evil thrive ON i'll considered
and untimely eff rts for reform. Where
a siege gun is demanded, the shooting of
an old musket only makes laugh at
the expense of the shooter and con-
tributes to give the enemy renewal OF
confidence in his impregnability.
That is what we mean when we sug-
gest that attacks made on deep-rooted
evils are better never begun than un
dertaken, as so many so-called reforms
have been undertaken in this and
other cities-only 10 waste good
ammunition and fritter away effort that
If more timely aud better organized aud
united might be successful.
Aud. aside from this, this newspaper
has no desire to use the cry of reform"
simply as boom Tor iiself--unless IL
earnestly proposes to carry the reform
through. -srs
IhE NEWS proposes to give this mat
ter it's earliest aud most careful con
sideration because the communication
Of its esteemed correspondent indicates
that the tins may be ripe Tor action.