The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-02
DEMOCRATS
URGING
ACTIVITY
Registration VIII Give That
Party a Powerful Weapon 10
Use Next FALL

A Democratic rally was held at the
junction OF Eddy and Ship streets last
evening. The rostrum was an express
wagon In which table and chairs were
placed.
The speakers we're Samuel f. Danbury,
Edward n Sullivan. 7. r. Cooney ard
stephen J. Casey. Mr.. Danbury presiding
considering the clustering condition OF
the weather the audience was quite large
Chairman Danbury In referring to the
last Legislative session said:
we have been given a wonderful ex-
ample OF ventriloQuism up there In the
state house. A certain person sits in his
office $50 feet from the legislative cham
Der and talks for 20 dummies. who sit
within; men who said aye or no rimoy
by the pulling OF a string"
Mr.. Sullivan spoke of the deplora y
apathy and lack OF interest In the affairs
OF this state I'm former years and OF tho
great awakening which was begun ore
year ago.
Addressing himself to the Republican
party OF Rhode leland he said: 1T Is
possessed OF no patriotic sentiment, no
public spirit. but exists for the selfish
ana mercenary purpose OF enriching the
few who control II. by doing business In
commercial wsy with those who wanted
to do business with It. The Republican
managers have sold out very nearly
everything that the state owns on the
very best OF terms TO themselves. bur on
no terms at all. so far az the state Of
Rhode Island is concerned.
The Republican party has controlled
the law-maklng powers OF the stats and
has created great corporations, to which
they havo granted great rights, privileges
and franchises, wdblic property OF the
state, without any compensation woi tn
talking about to the state. Than the R&-
publican general assembly has made
treaties with these corporations, by.
which they have attempted to bind the
state not to make any laws affecting
these corporations without the consent
OF these corporations which the state
brought into existence.
'"rhe present general assembly has in
Its history in the last session, exhibited
an object lesson to the people of the state.
IL has shown beyond all possibility of
mfsapprehension, the fact that tho Re-
publican party has no other purpose In
It's existence than the promotion Of tho
interests OF the franchised corporations
which buy its services as grantors Of
| legislation.
IF this Republican party were d party
representing even a bare majority OF the
people of Rhode Island we who oppose
IL would be- obliged TO abide by its ac-
ton. because no matter how bad 1t may
pS, tire iuiN VI TITO IuuSt COutIOi
But the Republican party Is not ma
Jority party. 1t is a minority party, and
a small minority party
This Republican party represents but
5000 Of those qualified as electors In this
state, and there are 100000 men In Rhode
Island who could, If they wanted to.
qualify as electors and take part in elcc-
tions. There are 100000 men In this state
who have the right of suffrage A man
who has the right of suffrage has imposed
upon him the duty OF exercising that
right. not only for his own protection.
but for the protection of his fellow ctti-
zens because in human affairs only right
carries with 1t duty, and so II Is In this
matter of suffrage.
Now If as 1 say, II Is true that the
Republican party Is minority party and
there are 100000 men who can vote in this
state, let us, ! say, have test Of this
question: Does the Republican party
act ~ represent the people of Rhode
Island? Let us have every one of the
100000 men who might vote qualify them
selves TO do so, by complying with the
simple provision OF law, that they shall
register as electors. Let US find out
what all the people want, instead OF as
now, what barely one-fourth OF the
people want"
Mr.. Cooney and Mr.. Casey each urwed
upon their auditors the necessity OF resis-
tration.
Bye and Bye you will wish 70 svo,d