The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-12
To THE EprroR OF THE NEWS:

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:
SrR-Now thAt the presidential campaign Of
1895 is ended, and the sun of an era of poll II
contention has sank below the horizon, let
us in the lingering twilight review and dis
cuss with our fellow citizens the question Of
the intelligence lack of wisdom we dis
played in seccting our system OF tactics and
the adoption OF weapons used in that contest.
One especially Z wish TO mention, more deadly
than the poison tipped arrow OF the savage;
the unlicensed freedom of speech. The I'm
telligent voter will criticise severely, and
properly, the past and what he has reason TO
suppose will be the future record of his oppo-
nents, as body polite; but TO the unscrup-
ulous, depraved and ignorant, consistent crit
icism has a different Interpretation. Though
reared in ignorance and surrounded by an
atmosphere of vice, he has been taught from
childhood that his political rights are equal 10
those of his more fortunate fellow-citizens,
and, thinking his method the most effective,
he hurls the malicious, vituperative, truth
less fruit of the vilest life association against
the personal character Of him who is the peo-
pels candidate.
One OF the foulest ulcers on the body polite
of our Republic today, is the unlicensed free
dom allowed 10 attack the personal character
OF a political opponent. Not alone by its citi-
zens; but in many instances, the press, the
peoples medium OF information and instruc-
top, has on both sides assailed the personality
of its opponents candidate in such manner as
would cause its moral supporters 10 blush with
shame at such utterances and deplore the
lack of dignity possessed by the editor.
For our children, who will soon take in hand
q e reins of government, and whu accept as
literal the malediction thrown by different
parties is such system of education in poll
teal affairs, the proper one2 To their minds,
the successful candidate Of whatever party,
has been stripped OF every somblnnce OF virtue,
and TO them, il must appear that the lack of
virtue, is no impediment 20 ones obtaining
the highest position in the gift OF the people.
Freedom Of speech exists today i'm England
Germany and France; yet nothing classed be-
low a clean, respectful criticism is presented
in the columns of their standard sheets
There are ridiculous caricatures, hum orous
assaults and reflections, cast, as in our own
country; but these are found only within
q medium provided for that class of litera-
ture
Before the dawn Of another presidential
campaign, may n wave of public opinion
sweep over our land, which will so impress us
with tAe sense Of the dignity OF our position as
citizens, that our self-respecs ill compel us
TO treat our opponents with respect. Let us
emulats the character Of General Gnnt who,
though he hated and had crushed as n serpent,
the cause o, secession, was magnanimous and
respectful TO its leaders. So that when the
sun of the next political contest arises, we
may look in vain for spot upon its surface,
which will disturb the equable working of
this system, which he in his life, 50 ably
| illustrated. ~
WILLIAM RANDALL ANGELL-
n. Providence, Il. l., Nov. 0, 1895.