The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-04

WV LII RAVDE ASAaND oFLA N
On Wednesday the first gun Of the
Political campaign OF 1898 win be fired by
Rhode Island.
Far more important will be that dny
than was Dreamed when the pnrty COL
ventions we're hel1. 10 the issues Of pro-
tection. American wages paid IN sound
'Amerissnz money that have. made tie
'aispnblieahparty and Rspubliaan prin-
ciples phenomsnally strong In this pro-
sressive and intelligent State Is now
added new factor. that OF the relation
ship that exists in our foreign affairs as
suddenly developed by the Cuban ques-
tion. Strictly Speaking this Is OF course
no party question. Democrats as we'll as
Republicans are patriots all. But as the
Democratic minority In Congress has
abandoned party lines to demonstrate its
loyalty to the adm ministration. an admin
istration by Republicans so the highest
expression Of patriotism possible to the
individual voter In Rhode Island on
Wednesday next Is to make extra effort
to 90 TO the polls and, putting all diverg-
ent promptings behind him. to vote for
the Republican state ticket and the Re-
publican Assemblymen on whom will de-
pend the return Of one of the countrys
leading statesmen and one of the Presl-
dents chief advisers. Senator Nelson w.
Aldrich.
publican vote should to Rhode Islands
response to the anxious inquiries from
the nations capitol on Wednesday night
next. In 1896 party differences In this
section were sunk by the issue OF honest
money. Today the oali on the patriotic
citizens of common country threatened
by foreign foe should result In still fur
ther broadening the view OF tho citizen
and obliterating the lines Of partisanship
Most Of us were Republicans in 1896. All
Of us ought to be Republicans on wednes-
day next. As In 1895 Republicanism rep
resented honesty In our dealings and tne
integrity Of our institutions by the
money issue. so today Republicanism is,
by the fortune of politics, the active force
on guard, representative of the whole
people ralIying around the OLD Flag. 1t
commands support, as it did In 'o6-
YES, as 1t did In the trying
dayst of go, '6e and '64.
To be in such position is perhaps the
political fortune OF the Republican party
but none the less Is the duty Of the hour
to vote Republican supreme ct this criti-
cal junoture as 1t was at the crisis In 1898
and moro. Under the conditions that ex-
listed at the time of the party conversions
. Republican success on Wednesday next
was assured. But ondsr the conditions a.
they exist today that SUCCESS should be
made IN unexamplef triumph because or
the encouragement that will thus be
afforded the government at Washington
and the impression that will be creatsd
on the world at large. We doubt II the
patriotic congressman of the Democrstic
faith In the Capitol, who have We'd with
their Republican associates to lend sup
port to the administration would lind
any satisfaction today In having next
Wednesdays election In q State like
Rhode Island 60 Democratic. 1t remains
for the voters Of Rhode Island regardless
of party, to make that election 80 over
whslminsly Republican as to demonstrate
to every supporter of the administration,
and that at this crisis. is every true
American. Democrat and Republican
alike, that Rhode Island appreciates the
supreme Issue, recognizes her duty, and
rejoices 1t the opportunity to fire the first
gun that shall echo around the world 10
proclaim again, MS Congress has done,
that the Republican administration at
this hour is the representative Of an
united people. that IL Is backed by every
American standing with solid front an
broken by psrsissnship and knowing no
faction.
United We standl
The prospects for q large ice crop 40.