The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-05-23
A Corrupt State.



Much has been said of the veuality of
voters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, and 1t
is generally understood that morals have
greatly deteriorated in New England in the
last half century, but the conditions IN
Rhode Island, as reported upon BY the
correspondent of the New York Evening
Post. almost transcend belief. Bride
taking is shown to be very general in Rhode
Island. and list is given of IA towns that
are utterly and openly corrupt, to say
nothing of 20 towns that sadly need clean
sing. immortality prevails and brings no
ostracism in some parts of the State,
Indescribable social crimes frequently oc-
cur-crmeS such as are seldom found IN
other States, There is nominal prohibition,
but whisky is to be had at 346 places.
Four towns are mentioned that have no
resident minister, and in Foster four
churches have been closed for lack of
support. Child labor in mills is common,
Notwithstanding the laws. In certain
back districts conditions are worse than
in the remote mountain regions OF East
Tennessee. Western North Carolina and
Eastern Kentucky, the people being vicious
and degraded past belief The Post edl-
torially rather favors the view that 1t Is
original sin which makes IT easy Tor
what We proudly call our best stocks to
slip down in the course Of two or three
a. al
level of the cave men.
The Post thinks the conditions in Rhode
Island are mot unique, existing IN
every State. but in holding this opinion
it certainly does an injustice 10 most Of
the States. The difference. says our
contemporary. is that. owing To the small
ness Of Rhode Island and the popularity
of its Constitution, 20 rotten little towns
furnish majority Of the Senate and bold
the Commonwealth at the mercy Of every
political plunderer. The necrosis which in
Massachusetts has touched onl Is the ex
tremities l. there eating away the very
backbone The malady i Of profound in
tereSt to the entire country. for We arr all
sufferers from j, in greater q les deGree
We hear frequent lectures from the
Northern press upon alleged defects Of
southern communities, but there are no
towns. ar counties. ia the South Ia - bad
condition. It appears. a certain parts #
the Land Of the Pilgrims Pride Ms
sionarie, from the South would find an
ample field. according "a the Post de-
>criptiua of aff1irs, ia the region under
notice
In four whole townships there i no;
a resident minister aud uauy Peupie in
these places. 80 far from bowling down to
wood and stone have no religion at all
buw dosn t. nothing. Every DAY in the
week they are guilty q theft. murder aud
adultery If any spot needs moral re
generation. it !, these Villages which arr
literally without hope aud without God ia
the world
Coventry Is meutiuael a. one Of the
,uoioriou,ly debauchel toSus Herr the
~sil j, g,ssd and farming pays The m'lls
have iog,i-a employs. French Canadians
being numerous The Post thus complete,
the picture
Notwithstanding. 81 : 90 inhabitants
the town has ouly three rr,lieni ministers
and total q churches Their ar.
: saloons and - schools. OF the 80.
mill worker 10 the town over ! = yer cent
are rhiIdrea Election iay practice, level
up 10 the vorsi Of any Of the couupi towns
Of the State. 4 great pan 81 ~ l.l41
voters afe believed to be thoroughly yeaal
Is Is srakeu 81 as a town in which moucy
l. always used to bung ogi the vote Il
Is as, QUE II the dead or diving secsia1s II
the >fa.s. aud the voters have nog the
same incentive to sell ihciT saifraev a. ia
the western tier That - muoh ct
the shameless traffck ing Is done ss aycri5,,i
10 the persistent tempisslou offered the
voter by s4sssscienoel,-s p,ligie6ans.
Numerous schools, paying tariff aided
indnstrir~. wealth and intelligence c.rx,,g
with ,ha1nele,, corruption, The pheuous
non Is oue 70 cau-e the u,orai5<i and Lex
isiaJor tn doubt certain sasial H.-grams