The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-26
THE POPULAR UPRISING.

Aside from the puppets, the pensioners and
other benehciaries of Braytonsm, there is not in
Rhode Island today an intelligent citizen who does
not realize how shameful the political cond-
tions that prevail here and how absolutely neces-
sary it is for all men whose civic consciences are
alert and sensitive to unite at the polls next No
vember in order that the state may be rescued from
the shame and scandal that Braytonsm has i'm
posed upon it.
The evils and outrages from which the COM
nonwealth suffers and which have brought upon
her the and contempt of every other state in
the union the direct logical and legitimate result
of corrupt bosssm and that bossism has come to
exercise autocratc power because the constitution
renders it not only possible but easy for few un-
scrupulous men to seize and exercise powers and
privileges that belong to the people only and by
.them only should be exercised.
Representative government does not exist in
Rhode Island today and has not existed here for
decades. Instead we have political despotism the
most evil and disgraceful that fastened the
yoke of gnoble political servitude on the necks of
American freemen.
Other states have suffered from machines and
from BOSSES but not one of them has been
completely and scandalously boss-ruled as Rhode
Island, and none has been continuously under
boss domination this state has been
Other commonwealths have been able to crush
out the evil Of bossism when the people realized
the magnitude of its inquty, because in those
nonwealths the majority rules, and no boss can
remain in power against the will of the majority.
Here in Rhode Island minority rules. An
insignificant fraction Of eight and one-half per
of the population is able to dictate all legislation
and control the governmental functions because an
antquated and partisan constitution makes easy
such a travesty of popular government.
The people of Rhode Island bearing the
burden of Braytonism and are suffering under its
outrageous exercise of stolen power because Bray
tonism is entrenched behind the organic law itself
Just as the stand -patters denounce as sacregious
all attempts to revise the Dingley tariff law under
which favored trusts and monopolies are licensed
to loot the plain people, too does Braytonism de-
nounce as revolutionary every attempt to rewrite
the constitution in way that will put end to its
plundering of the public.
1t is neither love veneration for the con-
stitution that prompts Braytonsm resist every
effort at constitutional reform. 1t is greed fox
money and for political power To prove that such
power can be coined into money as fast as bullion
can be coined into cash there are many instances
right here in Rhode Island.
Is 1t not political power astutely employed and
exploited that has enabled a representative of this
state in the senate of the United States to rise
from the ranks of the moderately well-to-do TO a
foremost position among the nations multimon-
aires1
Is il not political power brazenly used for pri-
vate gain that has enabled caous and con
scienceess boss, who for thirty years has had no
visible means Of support to live in luxury and wax
wealthy
There is no sentiment. patriotism in Bray
tonisms hostility to constitutional reform. Bray
tonism stands by the present un-American and big
oted organic law because IL permits Braytonisrn TO
hlch the rights Of the people and turn their general
assembly into legislative mill for the production
Of laws to be sold to corporations that willing
TO pay the price Braytonism demands.
To put end 10 such outrages against popu-
lar rights and against honesty and decency an up
rising Of the decent citizenship of the whole state
is necessary. That such uprising is in progress
convincing evidence is TO be found en- every hand.
Rhode Islanders are conservative. They arc
not essilv moved 20 anger or 10 radical action bu,