The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-26

~ TO MORAL COWARDICE."
The General Assembly Will take recess
BEGINNING after Friday next. to last over
the state election.
This is in accordance with a majority
Of the body, mostly Republicans. and
against the feelings OF minority OF the
body mostly Democrats.
And because tho majority so will, the
minority stigmatize the recess taking us
ian act OF moral c6wardce' which means
that the minority holds the view that the
majority do not dare 10 continue the ses-
sion up to the eve OF election lest the
minority succeed in making political
points that shall result in the overthrow
Of the majority i'm April. And the minor
ity pretend 10 be righteously indignant
thereat.
Probably few people doubt that the ma
iority is moved by the motive charged
10y the minority bur TO call their action
"mtral oowardice" is neither fair nor
lacking in humor
To any one familiar with party tactics
in the Assembly for the past decade the
taking OF the recess is perfectly intel
ligible act and is justified as party tactics
OF a kind which only the most altruistic
Goo-Gooism would ever think OF seriously
referring TO as anything 50 dreadful as
moral eowardice. OF course, tho old
fashioned partisan Democr recognize
It's tactical character and while they lend
in the shout of protest that is only for po-
litical effect.
The fact is that, for several years along
In the early 90s, under the leadership Of
two or three of the most original and
vigorous politicians that the local Democ-
racy ever produced, the January session of
the Legislature was regularly worked"
for political points calculated TO influence
the April election fayorably to their par
ty. Bills and measures were introduced
that had no earthly show of passing, and
were never Intended 10 be passed. but
were only put up to give opportunity for
political spsechmakiDg OH the floor of the
House and Senate ana furnish capital for
the Democratic press and the Democratic
stump orator i'm the camraIgn. These
tactics worked adm irably and series of
Democratic successes followed their adop-
ton, unprecedented in the history of the
State, but which have significantly not
been duplicated since tho Republicans
came into power a few years ago anu
promptly disarmei the Democratic mi
nority by taking recess for some time
before election day.
AS matter of general public concern,
the recess is probably very good thing.
A Legislative session OF more than four
uninterrupted months is something aw-
full to contemplate, anyway. The recess
opportunity for committees to
consider In peace and quist, so.caled i'm
portant measures and the vote thereon |
may be believed TO be possible with rather
more calm and judicial frame of mind If |
taken after election than IL called for be- |
fore when the members are looking after
their fences and are rather more wrought |
up over the effect of their action upon
their personal political fortunes than the |
pressing needs Of the commonwealth.
1t certainly isn't worth while to get ex-
citod over the January recess which has
already become n pretty settlbd custom
that is likely TO bo adhered, TO whichever
party happens to control the Assembly.