The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-03
,'BRAYTONISM MUST BE
DESTROYED."-HIGGINS.

1.-The standard which you have placed
In my hands is accepted with keen real
ization OF the responsibility IL carries and
with a feeling OF gratitude for the unani-
nifty and the enthusiasm with which 1t is
offered
"If there ever was a time when self
sacrifice was necessary for the public
veal. when high hopes OF great party SER
vice TO the state could be justly held out
when citizens OF every party ana every
belief should wave aside all partisan and
selfish considerations / bel ieve that time
Is the present (AppIauseD
"Our honored state and its great ma
jortty OF upright. decent citizens are
aroused to high tension of Indignation
by the abuses in the governmental mech
anism Of the commonwealth. The uadl-
tions of Roger Williams. who gave life
and spirit TO our state. have been rudely
suppressed. The principles of the Revo,
lutionary fathers. who died for the sacred
doctrine OF equal rights and fair chance
to all before the law, have been sacri-
legiously debauched.
"The money and the rights OF our peo-
pie have been bargained away for the IN
dividual profit of selfish few. The
honor and the good name of our state
have been dragged in the mire from one
end OF the continent TO the other. A dam
gerous, brutal boss, with a warped con-
ception of public morality and hideous
disregard of even the outer forms of po-
litical decency. has sold our laws and Of
fees from an auction block In the State
THE heir of Cataline-like shameless
ness has told us that IL we don't like II.
we can do the next best thing; with the
same impudent assurance. he has adver-
tised a United States senatorship for sale
at public auction on Nov. S-terms cash.
and delivery absolutely guaranteed to
the highest bidder. (Applause) d,
"He has prostituted the young manhood
of Rhode island by his criminal use of
money. extorted from corporate seekers
of public franchises. (Applause) He has
refused to grant us relief from the iniqui-
ties OF an outgrown and dilapidated con-
stltution. .
'In the face of such conditions. is 1t
any wonder that the best citizenship Of
the state has risen I'm arms 10 protest ana
fight against a continuance Of these con-
ditions?
"Is Il any wonder that this feeling Of
Indignation Is best personified In Rhode
Islands most exemplary citizens, and
that the legions of reform are proud TO
cluster around their banner of the man
who best typifes the purest and most un-
selfish in private and public life. Rhode
Islands Grand Old Man, Robert IL. l.
Goddard OF this city? (Applause)
"At a great sacrifice of time and labor,
in a contest which means much of incon-
venience and peril TO his personal inter-
ests this honored citizen has nobly re-
sponded to the call OF his people for the
''The issues OF this campaign are clear,
definite and momentous. Let not the
champions of the entrenched ring befog
the peoples mind. This is Rhode Island
contest: and the questions at issue are
distinctly and entirely Rhode Island
questions. (Applause.)
Every effort will be made TO show that
this Is merely a scheme OF the wicked
Democrats TO get into power, that the in
tegrity of a great political party Is at
stake, that certain public officials pre-
sumably above the ring must be vindica-
ted; hut no amount OF explanation can
suppress the real issues before the peo-
pie OF this state. (Applause)
These issues are: First, Braytonism
(applause)--the burning question of the
campaign. and second constitutional re-
form (applause)
II regard the former as OF first import
ance, because until IL Is settled; until
the deadly blight OF bossism Is removed
from the conduct OF our state affairs. all
efforts at honest revision OF the consti-
tuition will be futile. (Applause).
'Braytonsm must be destroyed zap
plause) is, therefore, the first and leading
battlecry I'm this campaign. Applause).
IL is an issue in which many OF our best
citizens have unselnshly Joined. Hundreds
OF men hitherto bound firmly by party
tess have become convincedfthat the best
interest OF all parties that the preserva-
ton of free government IN Rhode Island
and the good name OF our state. can only,
be redeemed by a vigorous effort OF hon.
est men in all parties to throw of at
once and for all. the loathsomc yoke or
the boss. (Applause)
"onee rid OF this barnacle, there re-