The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-30
AN UNCONSCIOUS ADMISSION.

In spirit apparently fair, but really grossly partisan, the Provi-
dence Journal continues to discuss the movements in the Republican
and Democratic parties toward the securing Of a reform of the state
constitution. 1t probably has not escaped the attention of thought
full citizens that the organ of the dominant party persistently and in
sistenty derides and distorts the aims and purposes of political oppo-
nents, accuses them of insincerity and abandonment of their original
contention that the sovereign people of the state have the inherent
right whenever they ire s. disposed to amend or to rewrte the
organic law.
AS a matter of fact, there has been no abandonment of that
original contention. The advocates of real constitutional reform
have simply bowed to an advisory opinion of the supreme court,
which declared that inasmuch a S the constitution itself provided a
Iaethod for its amendment any other method of reforming it would
be illegal and revolutionary. The amendment proposed by tai,
Rhode Island Citizens union, but which the last legislature refused
to submit to the people, is not only in conformity with the letter and
spirit of the constitution ITSELF but with the advisory opinion of the
supreme court IS well This amendment clothes the general assem-
bly, with the power to submit to the vote of the people the question
whether o II not a convention to revise the constitution shall be held,
and the proposition is to take the same course for its acceptance or
rejection, as have all other proposals for changing the organic law.
There is nothing illegal or revolutionary in this method, as the
Journal is very well aware, but has neither the honesty nor the
courage to admit Moreover, it is the only method by which the
state can be rescued from the control of an insignificant minority
and safeguarded against the evils, the corruption and abuses that this
minority control has brought upon it.
But the Journal this morning, in a weak and wobbly attempt to
bolster the resctionary and Aabby cause to which it is committed,
uncOnsciousy admits the fundamental contention of the advocated
of real constitutional reform to be correct-that is it confesses the
present representation of Providence and other cities in the general
assembly is unjust and inadequate.
1t says: when Providence with more than two-hfths of the
population of the state is restricted to the election OF only a sixth of
the members of the house, when either Republicans or Democrats
may carry nearly half the districts in either Providence or Pawtucket
and still be entirely unrepresented in the assembly, it is plain enough
that circumstances have drawn us away from the Fundamental,
American principles Of representation according to population and
of equality of weight for each citizens vote"
That is exactly what the supporters of real constitutional reform
have all along claimed-that Rhode Island has departed from the
foundation principles of our American institutions by substituting
minority for majority rule, by unwarranted invasion of the right of
local sef-government, and by depriving the individual citizen of the
full value OF his vote.
And yet after making this confession the Journal goes on to
advocate the approval of a constitutional amendment at the nexs
election, which, if it becomes effective, will make representative gov
eminent still more a mockery in this state than it now is, will per-
petuate and make more absolute the control of the government by
twenty senators and will rob the individual voter in the cities and
towns Of nearly every remaining shred Of his voting power.
To such reprehensble Misrepresentation as this is the news
paper once known and respected as the Rhode Island Bible reduced
by its subservience to the powers that now rule and prey upon the
state.