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

The ancient forms OF aristocracy ana
Democracy. descending from Aristotle.
through French writer's. into the 18th
century, did not now trouble these non
copfounding statesmen OF England How
ever, these tidal waves OF history may be
interpreted, we are concerned here only
with one current of evolution. Without
question the form OF church government
known as Congregationalism offered the
greatest freedom In the nth century. In
dependents. Baptists, Quakers and all
forms OF separatists finally rallied
through these meetings OF the people In
the days when religious meetings de-
veloped into the power of the state.
COLONIZATION MOVEMENT.
The great English movement. coloniz-
ing the Atlantic states, brought 10 our
shores European civilization subject only
to the conditions OF a new and free world.
These American conditions prevailed I'm
New England and the Puritan motive ex-
pressed in Congregational Democracy
was engrafted upon them.
After quoting from the works OF diff
fcrent writers and authorities he con-
tinued that when our British cousins
within this generation. suddenly awak-
ened to the fact that the whole govern
ment OF Great Britain was concentrated
practically In a majority vote OF the
House of Commons they discovered
new respect for the constitutional
churches of our American Democracy.
The colony of Massachusetts, existed for
s. years under a royal charter granted to
the governor and Company Of the Massa-
chusetts Bay In New England The char
ter empowered the company forever to
elect from their own numbers a governor,
deputy governor and 1S assistants, and to
make laws not repugnant to the laws OF
England. Then the speaker followed the
outline OF the history OF Massachusetts
and the organization of the first general
court convened at Boston. Aug. %. 1890
Eight towns participated I'm this general
court. Certain laws were enacted with
an end In view of Democratic govern
ment. but this lasted but two years. Then
followed the political history OF the state
and the general court. briefly touching on
legislation. with commentaries on causes
and effects. The difficulties encountered
and the influence OF religion on the poll
tics of the state were related. Then
came the division of the general court
and the influences that established the
coordinate branches OF the legislature,
which has become the method of govern
ment In all the states and the United
States. A law suit brought about the
meetings OF the two branches by them
selves. separate and apart
TOWN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
The towns OF New England. their forms
or government. and what originated this
form OF municipal government was re-
ferrcd to and the principles were working
and gestating In all the communities and
towns of Massachusetts for a century
and half. When the freemen came to
resist George III. they were more than
members OF chartered corpora tion: they
were the members Of a body polite hav-
ing the principles and traditions OF Eng
lish common law. Lowell gives I'm a nut
shell the essence Of Republican repre-
sentative government. 1.-THE divine princi-
pie OF authority based on common con-
sent" The ordinary charter and a royal
charter were defined: The owner does
what he will with his cattle "only by vir-
tue OF a grant and charter from both his
and their maker. A royal charter based
on land and the feudal tendencies then
fnbering In land. conveys legal and COM
mercial privileges. but in the hands OF
an active. intelligent body of freemen IL
conveys much more. Many authorities for
the definitions as given 70 towns were
quoted.
FOUNDING OF CONNECTICUT.
Then Connecticut was taken up and the
same process was gone through with "a
show that the founding the towns OF that
state which was done under authority OF
q commission from the general court OF
Massachusetts on March 3. 1895. and
while this was limited and while those
commissioned pronitted by receiving the
attribute OF power they did not render
and allegiance IN return. Rut they took a
proiiticsi prefosative. not commercial