The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-02-13

Al Bell Street chapel. yesterday Rev
clay MacC1uley spoke on The lmme-
diate Duty OF the People of Rhode ISL
and. which. he said. is political self-gov-
ernment As he knows nothing at first
hand of the charges now freely made OF
political corruption in local elections and
among the lawmakers ne would say but
llttfc about them Even N true. he con-
sidered that they bear superficial rola-
tion 10 his plea
In part he said
Political corruption Is not peculiar 20
Rhode Island among the states nor does
It's removal depend under present condi-
tions upon the dominance OF any one or
other political party here. But one all
important fact must not he ignored In
dealing with political evils I'm Rhode Isl
and: the facI. namely. that this state
is so constituted shat. unlike other states.
it has no speedy and effective means for
civil reform when political evils arise.
Good government I'm this state does not
now necessarily issue from legalized
expression OF the popular will And no
matter how corrupt the government OF the
state. the people have now no legalized
way OF destroying the corruption II the
powers that be will not cooperate.
I.F-GOvERNMENT PREVENTED.
Rhode Island has no actual popular
self-government II is in this fact that
the state Is unique and almost alien
among the American commemorative. and
81 H. i'm this fact that the state Is vulner-
able. without legal remedy. 90 the perils
that beset political administration.
"Self-government for this state is rsdi-
eagYfH - 4 la a N
Rhode Islands government is that OF
practically sef-perpetuating oligarchy.
This political condition has It's source in
natural historical antecedents. Our
state has never been true democracy,
and Is not today Herein is the radical
and the fsst-maturtng intolerable fact
AT last the people had secured a writ
ten constitution II was far better than
the old royal charter. Yet, after all, no
very radical advance was made by II
toward an effective representative pop
ular government Consequently the old
struggle for self government continued
Many amendments 10 the constitution
have been at times forced into existence,
But only one great popular gain has been
made by these amendments. that is, a
practically universal manhood sunrage
obtained l. years ago
Even universal suffrage. however, has
not secured actual popular seif-govern
ment Under our constitution the state 8
government Is still that Of an undemo-
cratic oligarchy The office OF governor
is nlled by universal suffrage IL Is true
but the governor has at command hardly
a shadow OF the power inherent In MS
Office
I THE legislature has no really popular
representative character in either Of its
. branches And the senate. which In no
sense represents the people has alb
sorhed into itself whatever reality there
is i'm both the legislative and executive
functions Of the commonwealth. So Il
is that though the form OF governpen
seems to be changed. the old, aristocratlc
oIlgarchic administration persists In al
that Is essential TO It.
THE CRUCIAL ISSUE
Here. then. is the crucial issue nov
! before -tfr-reeele-e Rhode Island, Al
other questions are superficial And thu
immediate duty resting upon our people
is to aim at real self government anC
4 10 strive for Il. within the forms Of Law
and order. until they have made IT par
OF the constitution. Nothing will cure
any disease now I'm our political life. o.
/ al least open n way To it's cure. but sucl
/ constitutional reform as Will give To th'
. executive head or the state real ADMIN
: istrative power and embody IN the legis
| lative houses an actual and ADEQUATE
representation OF the popular will
How is this 10 be done? Not neces
sarily by transfer of civil power from
one existing political party. to anothe
such transfer would not of itself meal
the destruction W our great wrong q
the purifcs stlou Of that which may b
/ corrupt.
The imperative demand is for cease
! less agitation, wholly Independent OF ex
| lSting partisanship and inclusive of nj
parties. an earnest Independent et
. fort through demand. persuasion and edu
. cation. until patriotic citizens throughou
+ the state shall elect a general assembly
! which. nv it's own action shall like th.
| patriotic freeholders' under the roya
I charter relquish their present legal holC
. OF power FOR tho sake or helping the peo
pie 10 the constitutional reform by whici
genuine popular government shall be re
allied
ARE NOW DIFFICULT.
Especially do / mean that. somehow
n senlte shall be elected upon the con
4 dt,ion that its members will consent {,
such n reform I'm itself that not only viii
each township have a senator but ou
cities shall. proportionately with tn
|