The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-07


troduced into this town from tho motrop
. oils by TuE NEWS at the time Of tn
municipal campaign OF 1875 for the pur
poss Of distinguishing cerisin Of our Eel
low citizens who had taken a streak IL
politics that, while 1t could be othsrwis,
deserted, could In no other way perhap,
be so we'll expressed in brief form. Now
that Journal reporter hrs with rsre
facility Of discrimination picked up tue
coinage familiar in the columns OF the
News for more than fourteen months II
is explained that II was formerly term
of contempt or reproach ana Ia now a
title OF honor. "rhe men who were then
termed Goo Coos" explains this bright
young reporter, "are today the leaders
and controllers in the city government"
And so be Is permitted TO use the term
without violating a rule OF the Journal Of
fee that rams to the effect that no word of
reproach shall ever appear in its columns.
As matter OF fact as introd uced a. this
town by the NEWS, the title Goo Goo was
not designed to be reproach, to say
nothing of contsmpt. 1t was in the frst
| place, OF course, a convent ent contraction
OF "good government" and IL suggested
all sorts OF curious reflections but whether
nj
entirely upon the particular GOO Goo to
whom 1t was applied. For instance our
esteemed fellow citizen the Hon. SAM
BULLOCK always cons ide cred it a severe
unkindness TO be called Goo Goo since
1t was his proud boast That he had been a
Democrat eli his life and expected to re-
main one. On tho other hand when such
fine and handsome pair of political
spoilsmen a. chairman DoRNEY Of the
city committee and the Hon. DICK Com
STOCK, of universal politics, set themselves
up as Goo Coos the term Immediately
took on a sound that tickled the risibles.
Yet again in one notorious instance the
association of one name which we do not
now care To repeat, as IL is dropped
out Of the list OF public officials, with
the Goo Goo ticket was about enough to
bring reproach aud contempt upon the |
whole movement.
Our fellow citizens generally we believe
recognized the fine distinctions possible |
to the use of tie term when II became
most familiar during the campaign OF
1890. There were some who were able to
hold their heads the higher by reason OF
the Goo Goo button that adorned their
lappels. There were some whom the
mblem constrained to laugh in the
sleeve and yet some to whose cheek OF
modesty it would have brought the blush
OF shame IL there had originally
been any such cheek of modesty 70 have
so bossomed. But whatever the meaning
OF The term, the term could never m Ke
ror beeak the man that bore it. Inevita-
bly, 1t was the man who made the term
or otherwise, laughing
stock or a reproach. BY the NEWS now
sver 1t was scattered with unbiased. il
with lavish hand, upon the Just and
anon the unjust and left to work out
is own salvation in each case.
And these reflections call to mind the
act that tho Hon. CHARLES CorToNssEp :
NICHOLS, himself GOO Goo of great
epute, owing much of his prestige, not
lone to bis aggressive Goo Gooism, but
lso to the pure and unauthorized mid
lie name oy which The News distin
'uished him over and above all the other
)HARIIE NICHOLS, In the wide world, is
n example OF the familiar truth that
here's nothing 10 a name other than what o
he man who wears II makes 1t. We have
o doubt that the Alderman from the
irst Ward, though he originally accepted e
be middle name coined in this Office with
iuch dihideaee now sports ii with renl
ride sincs it is indissolubly identified o
'ith his rise In public life from the mod +,
st round OF social existence in the First ! p
lard TO become chairman of the COM
littee ON streets OF the Board of Alder. :.
len OF the city OF Providencs. Aud as II
'arcely less renowned in tho councils of :
10 corporation today is the Hon.
owARD q. STURuEs. who in one short g
'rm has. we are glad to note, completely
stihed the use Of kid gloves in public =,
fe. We might SO continue to recall al
her individuals made "prominent citi- i
ms" partly, at least, throu- n tho iustrr- =.
entslity OF the discriminating obserya- Vi
ons OF THE News during the riss and n,