The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-18

ing for the wrongs Of the poor negro
down south. Why don't these hypo-
critics and corr:ptionists give the poor
white man OF Rhode Island q chance
for his political life:
Governor Davis also told me that
about 10 Republican multimillionaires
absolutely control the politics of the
state. another evidence of the much
vaunted purity of tie Republican par-
ty. So.ae day. somehow. that Old anti
quatcd constitution and apportionment
will be busted, and men viii have
their rights.
Still another sign of the love Of lib
erty possessed and exhibited by Rhode
Island Republicans is tie fact that
they still maintain and uphold prop
erty qualification on the right CT SUI
frase. the only state i'll the Union, |
believe. which retains that relic OF
barbarisn.
1 here quote a most peculiar cam
paisn document issued by the Rhode
Island Democrats:
AN APPEAL TO REGISTRY VOTERS IN CITIES.
Rhode Island IS peculiar in having class OF
half voters About $4,000 voters, constituting in
every city majority CT the electorate, are de-
urived OF the American right of voting for city
council.
Against this wrong Democrats have at cll times
protested In both senate and house at the re-
cent session OF the general assembly they pre-
scntcd and voted for amendment to the state
constitution comforting the right, but were op-
posed and defeated By the solid Republican ma
jority.
No reason exists for this disiranchisemcnt. In
der the limited suffrage both Providence and
Pawtucket have higher rates OF taxation and far
larger debts than are averaged by cities OF the
same size in other states.
Registry voters OF cities. you going to con-
time year after year in political serfdom? Do
you intend to initiate the southern negroes who
! supported tie Confederate armies which were
fighting to keep them in slavery? The Repub-
lican machine which controls this state is wholly
responsible for your disiranchisement.
1t needs no prophet to predict that should you
by your votes render evsry city Democratic you
would obtain equal rights within three years
Registry voters in cities. whatever your na-
tional politics. why not in ell state elections.
commencing now, cast your ballots for every
Democratic candidate? This IS the sure and
speedy way to full and Just suffrage.
DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEES.
For Political Purposes Only.
Another queer manifestation OF fRhode
Island politics is that it is openly
charged and generally believed that
Senator Wetmore is q citizen of Rhode
Island only for political purposes and
is really citizen of New York. the
paradise of multimiliionaires. Still, by
reason of his big checks for campaign
purposes. be is likely to be returned to
the senate Of the United States.
But even in Rhode Island all Repub-
licans cannot be induced to swallow
the nauseous dose now being prepared
for them at Washington. Both Rhode
Island senators and both Rhode Island
representatives voted for the Porto Ri
can tariff. but Governor Dyer of Rhode
Island, the outgoing Republican, thus
slaps them and the administration in
the face:
1 believe it is the duty OF every Republican to
stand up and with no uncertain sound condemn
any course OF procedure by congress which brings
into question the honor Of the American nation
toward those new peoples who have come under
its protection. In tie very beginning of the was
with Spain, when it was uncertain what the re-
suit would be so far added territory was con-
cerncd, the United States went TO Porto Rico; 1t
made no excuse that the island had been misgov-
erned by Spanish rule; it made no apologies; it
| said the island OF Porto Rico is TIE gateway 10
the Antilles. To treat these people now as II
they were aliens as if they had 10 rights at all,
~ ftrIr
island. to set up our own government and then
to impose duties upon them just as we would
upon the people OF Haiti or Santo Domingo. is
one OF the NOS outrageous transactions that could
be thought o..
Il IS most encouraging that so many of the
men WHO moid public opinion have taken the
stand they lave. II IS rot question OF coHsti-
tutional right It is question OF simple justice.
Nations have moral Obligations resting upon them
as we'll as individuals. God forbid that any peo-
pies should have to say that they preferred Span
iSh rule and that they trusted more in Spanish
honor than they did in the honor OF the United
States. The Republican party has always been
! loyal 10 the principles it has cnuIciated. be-
lieve there Is toda:' sufficient manhood in the
party to stand Up and not only protest against
but to refuse support to any men or any measures
not absolutely committed TO the principles OF ma
tonal justice and national honor. What spec
tacle it will be to European nations that this
people having been conquered by us and brought
into our field, should be treated as strangers and
taxed without reason for bringing their products
! into our ports We might Just well tax the
people of Block island for the fish and farm
products they send to the mainland as to tax
these people Of Porto Rico for what they bring to
us. This question is one in which every Repl5-
! lican should be interested. believe that before
the time comes for the meeting OF the national
convention in Philadelphia this question will be
settled and settled with justice and honor, not
only to ourselves but TO the people who by every
moral right should be part Of our nation.
Carrying Goals to Newcastle.
One thing learned in Rhode Island
gave me pleasure, and that is that the
new statehouSe is built out of Georgia
marble. This is carrying Goals to New
castle For Seneratioes federal pub
lie buildings in the south and central
west have been constructed of New
England marble, New. England granite
and New England stone. though such
material WAS abundant in moss Of the
states where the buildings were erect
n Of 1oc -