The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-25
MONDAY, JUNE IS, 1906.
THE BURDEN OF BRAYToNIsM.


Repubcansm that the decent and loyal citizen
ship of Rhode Island is arrayed in the campaign
now in progress.
The Republican party is not a party of cor
ruption or dishonesty. 1t is not party wilfully
maintaining dangerous theories, or wantonly seek
ing to subvert the fundamental principles of free
and decent government Its rank and file is guided
by no unworthy motives, are its purposes
menacing to the wellbeing of the commonwealth.
AS lofty patriotism and as worthy aspirations for
the common welfare are to be found among the
great mass of Rhode Island Republicans
among citizens of any other political faith.
Repubcansm is confronted today by the mil
liant forces of reform not because OF wrongs
mitted by its honest and decent membership, bu,
because of outrages perpetrated in its name by
Braytonsm.
Repubcansm will go down to defeat next
November because it supnely surrendered its
powers and its functions great party to design
ing oligarchy because in its passivity il permitted
men without conscience civic virtue to usurp
its prerogatives and with malevolent cunning 20
drive representative government from the COM
monweath.
1t is the habit to refer to the Republican party
as the dominant party 1t is not true Republi-
cansm, that dominates, but that mschievous, Cor
fupt and corrupting offspring of Republican COM
placence and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Is it not the malign potency of Braytonism
that for two decades and more has successfully
resisted every attempt either to adequately amend
or properly rewrte the constitution OF the state !?
Is il not Braytonsm that insists that the posses
sion of money rather than Of true manhood shall be
the standard by which to test the fitness OF citi-
zen for the exercise OF the full and unrestricted
right of suffrage?
Is not Braytonism responsible for the robber
legislation that fastened upon the city OF Provi-
dence and the city of Newport state-appointed
police commissions under which vice and lawless-
Haunted themselves in open and impudent
defiance of law and in apparent security from inter
ference or moestaton?
What sinister but powerful agency was it that
procured for the traction company exclusive and
perpetual franchises in the public thoroughfares
that emasculated wholesome and salutary law to
save from punishment on indictments found under
il this same traction company; that has prevented
the enactment of effective bank inspection law
that would safeguard the deposits of the business
community and the savings of thrifty wage
workers?
Will any intelligent citizen hazard denial that
for all these shameful acts of commission and oms,
sion Braytonism alone is to blame?
Why is it that the governor of the state OF
Rhode Island is denied the veto power and his
appointments are subjected to the approval of
twenty senators representing insignificant frac-
ton of the electorate? Is il not because Brayton-
ism so DEGREES?
Why does a rankly partisan registration board
with amazing insolence and astounding effrontery
deny to wageworkers those opportunities and ia
cilities for qualifying themselves as electors that
by right and justice should be afforded them? Is
is not because that board is the plant and plastic
tool OF Braytonism?
Why is there today such widespread belief
that Senator Wetmore has been forced out OF the
race for a denomination and that Colonel Colt will
be put in the field to oppose Colonel Goddard? Is
il not because OF the conviction that Brayton is still
dictator and has decided that Colonel Colts can
ddacy will be more advantageous to him than
would be that OF Mr.. Wetmore?
The Braytonism of the present is in no way diff
iereni from the Braytonism of the past Ii still for
muates policies, invents issues and names caud
dates wholly regardless OF the will wishes OF the
Republican party, leaving to the rank and file o
the party the only right il cannot flchthe right tc
votc.
Republcanism will be chastised not for pot