The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-10-05
RHODE ISLAND DAY.

|; unite In federal bonds the Puritans OF
Massachusetts, the Quakers OF Pennsyl-
vania. the Catholics or Maryland. the
High Churchmen OF New York, the Dutch
Protestants OF New Jersey, the Cavaliers
Of Virginia. tho Hugenots OF South Caro-
lima. End the Methodists OF Georgia.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The Rhode Island doctrine OF religious
freedom stands as the first amendment
10 tbs Federal Constitution, and Is In
corporated into the organic law OF every
state. This is the immortal principle
which Rhode Island has added TO the
structure OF our government, to the max
ing OF America. In its expansion and ir-
radiation. there is found the cohesive
force which has pcrpetuatcd this union OF
states. In the absence of this instru-
mentality, II would have been iml ossible
to weld together the heterogeneous popu-
laticn Of this country, drawn from so
many fations and races differing in Ian
guage. religion, habit. and political ideas,
into one homogeneous Federal Union, one
American people. II is not our geog-
raphicsl position, natural resources. dis
tinctions OF race. which have made
America. for other nations have had sim
liar advantages: but II Is the energy, the
incentive, the freedom from dscord. the
desire 10 know and excel In everything.
derived from the intellectual liberty of
which Rhode Island was the first exam
pie and forerunner If. in this festiv NJ
OF the worlds progress. the achieve
ments, wealth and power of the United
States bear a most favorable compa rlson
with other countries, II II 10 the great
! principle hich Rhode Island implanted
, in our institutions that we must look for
| the underlying and potent cause.
TURNING POINT IN HISTORY.
But what Rhode Island first gave To the
world has deeper and broader signih-
canoe. Religious liberty was a turning
| point I'm universal history. II was the
! t~ginning Of modern government. II
stands ''in the Background OF every
democratic struggle In Europe" Upon
the tomb Of Jefferson. In the epitaph
written by himself, his authorship OF
the statute OF Virginia for religious
freedom" and hundred and fifty years
after Roger Williams, IS ranked next in
Importance to his authorship W the De-
clsration OF American Independence. The
Columbian Exposition. upon a compari-
son OF the worlds achievements. brought
! In the verdict federation In Religion,
| the best fruit OF the last four centuries.
| In the presence Of the far-reaching and
momentous consequences which have
flowed from the Rhode Island doctrine
| OF soul liberty she IL entitled to high
distinction among her sister states, and
| admiration and gratitude Of all mankind
There IL another doctrine, first pro-
! mulgated by Rhode Island, which has
proved important TO the stability OF the
| American union. The novel constructive
feature which the trainers added to the
science OF government. and embodied In
the constitution. was the judiciary. The
keystone OF this branch Of the govern
ment resided In the power Of the SUI
preme court 10 declare what the organic
| law is. and thus TO hold in check legisla =
tive omnipotence
This power finds expression In the
doctrine that the supreme court may
declare unconstitutional and void any
act Of the legislature. Seventeen years
before Marshall, in Marbury vs.. Madison.
esta blished this doctrine. the same prin-
! ciple was. for the nrst time. enunciated
4 BY the superior court OF Rhode Island
| in Trevett VS.. weeden. and the reason
| ing Of varnum. IN his mastery srgu-
ment In support OF this Judicial pre-
rogative, Is closely followed by Marshall
in his opinion. II is also an interesting
circumstance which may be noticed In
| this connection. that IN 1889 the town
| OF Portsmouth appointed a court with a
jury Of twelve men "to doc right be-
| twixt man and man"-the first act af
separating the judicial from the execu-
/ tive and legislative branches known 10
colonial history
FIRST MODERN STATESMAN.
But the contributions OF Rhode Island
! 10 the American Union are Of wider i'm
! port Roger williams was the first mod
ern statesman. and Rhode Island was
| the first modern democracy. She was
more than a century In advance OF her
| time. For her early government there
was no precedent. IL was q novel expert
Z ment; an anomaly in history. The ablest
statesmen and scholars Of the time de-
clared that such institutions were sub
versive Of social order. The principles on
which Rhode Island was founded have
become the cardinal principles of free
government She gave these principles
20 our political system. since she was
the earliest Co incorporate them into n
civil compact
Rhode Island was founded upon self
government. religious freedom. human
equality and Justice Denying the power
OF the crown to confer sovereignty by
right of discovery. she derived title TO
her territory by direct purchase from
the Indians. by the deed ~ submission
OF the great sachems I'm l643 transferring
the Jurisdiction over the Nsrrasansett
lands To the king Of England. and by the
kings confirmation OF title In the colo
nists BY the charter Of 1863
The Providence compact OF 1897 In
which the inhs sbitapts submitted them
selves 80 government only w civil
THINKS is the earliest written instru.
ment Of rree government II was
government limited 10 eiy1 powers vested