The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-02
BRAYTONISM.


ratification meeting on Saturday evening last, there
was statement so particularly forcefu and so
full OF truth that it challenged the attention of all
earnest and thoughtful citizens.
Professor Macdonald, after asserting that so
long as the Republican machine controls the whole
election machinery of the party is brazenly un-
scrupulous in its methods and has money to burn,
reform within the party is hopeless, went on TO
declare: 81 no hope OF reform, accordingly, save
in the destruction of the Brayton machine. And
when | speak OF the machine do not simply
General Brayton for he after ALL is only agent,
a spokesman. There men higher up who con-
sttute the real boss of Rhode Island. and who
must be reached and will be reached, before this
movement for political honesty is over 1t is these
men, rich, powerful, able, whose interests at
stake in the coming senatorial contest and shall
not achieve anything lasting until we dethrone
them"
Here is statement absolutely true, and known
to be true by every citizen at all familiar with poll
tical affairs and partisan manoeuvring in Rhode
Island
General Charles R. Brayton is not himself the
sole constituent of that embodiment of political
mischief and malignity which has come to be known
and to be reprobated Braytonism.
IL.
visible instrument of the oligarchy, the dispenser
of its corruption funds, the task master of its pur-
chased puppet law makers and OF its supne and
servile in other public Offices; but he is
not the ogarch responsible for the infames
and iniquities committed in the name of the Repub
lican party by Braytonsm.
That thing of evil and chicane is congeres
of men, most of them of great wealth, who are
It
and who, in order to gain and maintain control of
the state, do not hesitate to use their wealth for
the debauchery of the electorate and the corrup-
ton of the vena iii public Office
Without the money of the men who hide behind
him and for whom he acts, Charles r. Brayton
would never have gained the sinister domination
the legislative, executive and administrative
functions OF the state, that afronts and outrages
every sense of honesty and decency.
Braytonism's rnaevolent power is founded on
money, but Charles r. Brayton doesn't furnish that
money. His function in the combine of corruption
is to spend it; to dole it out where it will do the
most good, for Braytonism first, for the Republi-
party afterward
Strip Brayton of the power money gives him
and he would become utterly impotent Without
unlimited financial resources Braytonsm could not
exist to shame and disgrace the decent citizens Of
a sovereign state.
The most malevolent and the most mischievous
in Braytonsm's poluting partnership, therefore
the who furnish the corruption fund, the
higher up" the men who governed by
one set of morals in their private concerns and by
no morality whatever in their political acts and
manipuations
They the men who plan and plot in secret
disgraceful assaults upon the sanctty of the bal
lot upon independence in public office, and upon
the rights and privileges of American freemen,
which Brayton executes in the open with callous
and brazen disregard of decency and honesty
Who are these men thus leagued together for
the subverson of representative government
and for the perpetuation of Braytonisms malefc
ascendancy in the commonwealth?
No intelligent citizen need be told they
are the sort who deliver over 10 Braytonism
$4,000 TO insure reelection to the United States
senate, that they are heads of great corporations,
petual franchises in the public thoroughfares the
exponents of high finance and trust magnates who
believe cash. rather than character or capability,
is the surest passport TO seat in the highest
legislative body in the land.
These are the bone and sinew of Braytonism
Brayton is but their instrument, the visible tool
OF an invisible public enemey and public menace
1t is against these men higher up" who constitute
the fountain head of the stream OF corruption that
has inundated this state that the forces Of political