The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-11

, privilege: function OF government, not
a function OF trade.
Just as the colony OF Massachusetts,
based on territorial grants and trading
privileges from the British crown, made
war and peace and coined money II nec-
essary. so IL put out a sucker OF practical
sovereignty. which rooted In the Connec-
tcut valley. The planters met Jan. IL.
1862. and though there were changes the
rental orders" by which the colony was
substantially governed until the year 1878.
though Ii obtained legitimate authority
therefor from the British crown.
COLONY ADMINISTRATION.
The form OF government as outlined
and provided for by the orders was given.
The government proceeded In an orderly
way until the advent OF the charter In
1862. and thought there were changes the
orders were generally embodied In the
charter In 1776 the laws were made In
the manner OF the state of Connecticut.
In 1918 convention formed a constitution
to replace the charter The constitution
divided the government into three dis
| tinct departments, legislative. executive
| and judicial A great moving force in the
| agitation which resulted I'm the constitu-
| tion OF 1918 was the movements for the
liberation OF all Christian sects In the
colony.
Authorities agree that the ecclesiastical
establishment was outgrown.
Connecticut established regular &C.
clesiastical system, supported by tax
levied on the several Inhabitants according
TO their respective estates, whether they
dissented or not. 1t was the steady evo-
luton from the political system impelled
by the religious convictions and habits
OF the people. In the 18th century,
through political development and a lar
ger philosophy. broadened the minds OF
men, this enforced system became more
and more oppressive. The Baptists and
Methodists had repeatedly demanded
that legal religion should he abolished,
| and the adulterous union of the church
and state forever dissolve. The Episco-
| palian also demonstrated. In 1916 the
| american and federation ticket was
defeated. to triumph the following year.
| The first act of the general assembly was
| one securing equal rights. powers and
! privileges to Christians OF every denoml-
nation In the state federation and not
| liberty OF conscience was embodied in the
constitution Of 1918 in Connecticut.
ORIGIN OF RHODE ISLAND
| We may now turn TO the origin OF the
| third and the smallest OF the common
wealths OF New England. The fact re-
| mains that the Bay State drove out the
man. who with his followers. alone per-
| ceived the true relations OF church and
state. These relations were at last COM
| pretended and introduced into the funda-
| mental law OF Massachusetts, itself.
Williams, with four or five companions
came into Providence In 1886. The only
title or prescribed right possessed by
| these immigrants and planters was by
| purchase or gift OF the lands from the
| Indians. according TO their customs. In
the next year l3 persons. probably mas
| ters OF families made themselves the
| subject Of an agreement TO abide by all
| such orders and agreements as shall be
made for the public good OF the body. etc.
| Thomas Durfee says OF this agreement
| that II secured soul-liberty not by grant.
! but by limitation. lie says the state
/ ment was the constitutional declarati
OF the right In IT'S widest meaning. cover
ing not only freedom of faith and wor-
ship. but also freedom OF thought and
speech In every legitimate form.
CLEARED POLITICS FRoMRELIGIoN
The movement based or this document
| cleared the body polite from religious
| lamentation. 1t demonstrated for the
first time that external political control
was not essential TO maintain internal
religious belief In the members of the
body polite.
II did not constitute. thaugh II led 10 :
civil government. II was pure Demo.
| cracy. a meeting OF n town. but not vet
n town meeting as the term has estab
lished itself I'm history. The first upwart
step. the first delegation Of power came "
1870 BY government the first court, %
arbitration % differences. was estab
lished and this was effective for severe
years. As Williams was driven out OF ga
lem for liberty OF conscience, go Ann,
| Hutchinson and the Antinomoan heretic
were expelled from Boston.
The first OF this centrifugal impulses o