The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-03
FITZGERALD SOUNDS
TOCSIN OF VICTORY.

IT is not In the stereotyped language of
the annual convention speech, nor as a
more formal statement, that / express 10
you today my pleasure at being elected
by you TO provide over this convention OF
the Democrats OF the state OF Rhode ISL
and. IL Is a convention which In and OF
itself has all the features which have
characterized Democratic conventions for
many years past.
u see before nae men -whe- -hape-eema-
here year after year TO express their ad-
herence 10 the principles for which our
party stands and TO give their services
for the cause for which our leaders have
fought. men of whom IL could not be
truthfully said that office and the spoils
of office were their only aim. for II office
and the spoils of office were the sole OBJ
ject these men had in view. they would
long ago have given up Nthe battle be-
cause Of hope long deferred and barriers
almost insurmountable. (Applause)
But that which is eternal. that which
has appealed to men since civilization
first dawned. the yearning 10 be free. the
desire for equality. and the inherent op-
position TO favoritism TO a few at the ex-
pense of the many. has kept alive in their
breasts the fire OF enthusiasm and pre-
vented the enervation OF hopeessness
from driving away their purposeful fight.
(Applause)
Now, after many years of apparently
vain struggling against the forces OF cor
ruption, blind partisanship and sickening
apathy, there Is an evident awakening
In the state OF Rhode Island on the part
Of the best citizens TO a realization OF the
fact that our state. because OF our or
ganic law, has arrived at a point where
corruption must be throttled Applause
Partisaaship conflicts with patriotism and
apathy is treason. (Applause.)
This awakening brings Joy 10 those
who have fought the good fight when the
night was dark and the light OF hope
seemed dim, and TO all who will see a
glimpse OF better government and relief
from shameful servitude. (Applause)
And what are those principles for
which we have fought and which now
seem TO approach approval ana confirma-
tion7
'B'irsy and underlying all OF them is
the principle OF representative govern
ment. (Applause.) Shall the state OF
Rhode Island have representative form
OF government OF the people In the tru-
est sense OF the word-a government by
a majority of the people and not by a NIL
nority? (Applause.)
The Democratic party says, has said
end will continue To say, that the ma
jerity Is more often right than the MI
nority. that republican government
AItd4Ab tut OI TIC HldJOIllyg hflu lHhl
IL Is the kind OF government TO which We
are entitled and the kind for which we
should tight. (Applause)
Democrats as wei as Republicans be-
neve as Abraham Lincoln did. that you
can fool some OF the people all OF the time
and all OF the people some OF the time.
but that you cannot fool all of the people
all OF the time. (Applause.)
The Democratic party in Rhode Island
hflfaxfaa ir 90 ha
body polite. Applause. 1t believes that
corruption. insincerity. exploitation of the
people for personal and corporate gain
cannot long find favor before a majority
OF the people-(applause) is, that
you cannot fool all OF the people all Of the
time (applause): and Il desires so TO
change our organic law, our state cons,i-
tuition. that the task OF the CRATER the
boss. the insincere and the political tool
10 hold the fort for any length OF time
VIII almost be superhuman. (Applause)
1t desires so 90 fix the method OF rep
resentaton that. no matter what party
may be In control. there shall remain TO
majority Of the people the power TO
drive them out should they violate their
sacred pledges. Applause.)
ION the other hand. the Republican
party In the state Of Rhode Island, and It's
benenciaries. knows that you cannot fool
all the people all OF the time. but that
.
time. (Applause)
They know that their course I'm the
state government has been such that they
cannot appeal 10 the entire people for APP
pr0val, and that, unless matters are so
arranged that few control. their ex-
istence as power In the state will be
very brief (Applause) They know that
they can outrage the feelings. violate the
rights and place unequal burdens on a
vast majority OF the people OF this state
~ only they can appeal 10 the selnshness
and tickle the vanity OF a small minority.
Applause)
This they can do under our present
form Of government. which gives control
OF the legislature 20 a very small minor
fty OF the people, and which legislature
thus controlled robs the executive branch
OF the government OF all power and
places II IN the hands OF that body. the
state senate. which Is the least repre-
sentative. (Applause)
''On the one hs nd, the Republican party
ssys that the majority Of the citizens. be