The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-04
THE PEOPLES DECREE.

The doom of Braytonsm pronounced a
the Democratic state convention in the Empire
theatre yesterday.
The unbeaten leader of the militant Democ
lracy, Mayor Higgins of Pawtucket, in his speech
accepting the nomination for the governorship
declared with an emphasis that cannot be mis-
taken, and sincerity that cannot be doubted, that
Braytonism must be destroyed before even a con
stitutional convention or any other permanent
reform can be established in this commonwealth
And Braytonsm will be destroyed, Notwithstanding
its sickening chicanery to retain power.
The apologists for the corrupt oligarchy that
has throttled representative government are cum
nngly seeking to distract attention from Brayton-
ism's crimes against political purity, honesty and
decency by contending that Republican victory
in Rhode Island is needed at this time to preserve
the Roosevelt administration from reputation.
There is not in Rhode Island person who has
arrived at the age of understanding who does not
know that this claim is false pretense and a
hollow sham. Roosevelt and his administration
are no more before the people in this campaign
people of the Empire state will decide in favor of
honest and safe government in behalf of gov
erninent radical and socialistic.
The present battle of the forces of righteous
is against intrenched Braytonism--the most
corrupt, the most brazen most defiant and most
vindctive political ogarchy that ever gained
ascendancy in any state in this republic. Mayor
Higgins places Braytonsm as the first issue
because, in common with the decent citizens
of Rhode Island, he realizes that until its mon
strous and mischievous power is crushed there can
be neither that government by the majority nor
that honest administration of public affairs which
is the inalienable right of the people So long as
not only the Republican party machinery, but the
entire law-making, executive and administrative
machinery, is in the control of Braytonism, regener
alton is impossible here.
Mayor Higgins understands fully that the be-
ginning of reform must be the ending of boss rule.
Leave Braytonism with its power for mischief
unrebuked and undestroyed and the battle for the
regeneration of Rhode Island will never be won.
No permanent progress toward reform can be made
until Braytonism is chastised so thoroughly that
never again will it be able to rehabtate itself or
restore its malevolent power.
Not only has the designing and conscienceess
oligarchy absolute domination over the organiza-
ton of the party TO which it processes to belong
but by the purchase Of traitors in the opposing
party it has gained ascendancy over the state re-
turning board and the board of canvassers and
registration in this city, thus placing the represen-
tation of Democratic interests and Democratic can
didates in the hands Of men who use an empty pro-
fession OF Democracy to secure treacherous en-
ployment under the political enemy
The present duty otall men of civic conscience
as Mayor Higgins so eloquently pointed out, is to
unite for the absolute destruction of Braytonism.
for the cutting out of that noxious growth on a
body polite that has brought shame to Rhode
Island and the blush of disgrace to the cheeks OF
her decent citizenship
And that duty will be performed without falter-
Ing, without wavering and without compromise.
Why1 Because the manhood of Rhode Island
and the true womanhood. 1t may be added have
become thoroughly disgusted with the outrageous
conditions prevailing, and have determined that
those conditions shall be banished if it requires the
defeat of every Republican candidate who seeks
the suffrages of the honest electorate
In the past there have been crusades for re-
form, there have been efforts to chastise the boss
and to bury him with his machine; but all have
failed because many of the citizens, themselves
honest and themselves deploring the monstrous
evils and corruption of the machine could not be
induced to put their patriotism above their party
They realize now the terrible error they COM
mitted that they really helped to perpetuate Bray
tonism's scandalous rule. In penitence for the
errors Of the past they purpose to march under
the banner of reform, and to give their votes TO
the candidates OF the party pledged to destroy
Braytonism.
The popular decree OF death to boss rule will
be executed at the polls on Nov. 8.