The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-06-28
DORIS rebellion
Of 70 YEARS Ago
President Would Not Take
Any Action.
.HeldSway In .Rhodelsland in 1912
When People Were Rent
by Opposing Governments

DOrTS fNeWlion, dH' ytS, A'"' -
by the way when was that?''
Well, never mind YOU need no, he
ashamed Of your ignorance, for there
swer this question unless their TnerNl-
DRY reaches back to 1912 or are close
students Of history, says the Buffalo
News:
But 20 years ago Rhode Island md.
for that matter the whole country
was in a turmoil over the exciting
events which were taking place in
that tiny New England State. The
smallest commonwealth in the Union,
II was in the grip of two complete
State governments and the people
were rent into two factions, one owing
allegiance 10 one party, the other 10
the opposite ring. Brother stood ar
rayed against brother, father against
son and all over the question Of the
right TO vote.
On April 49, 1872 an election was
held in Providence, II. l.. the result of
which was TO send Thomas w. Dorr,
at that time widely known man IN
high treason. He was there under a
Sqife sentence. but the work he tried
to accomplish was taken up by his
foes, the goat he aimed at was
achieved by others and he was re-
leased from prison.
The start of the trouble really
dates back TO May ~. 1880, when
Rhode Island ratified the federal con-
sthution. 1t the last of the u
original colonies to enter the Union
and when it did so it retained its orig
inal charter, granted in 1867 by
Charles ii. 1t was an archie old
document and confine the right to
vote to owners of freehold ..or;h
$i34 or renting for 81 per year and
TO their oldest sons AS time went on
more obnoxious to the majority of the
citizens of the state. who were en-
cluded from share in the govern
ment. Another distasteful feature of
the old charter was the inequalities
In the representation in the lower
house of the Legislature In 1850,
tlati If
1888, il was entitled to six represen-
tatives while Providence, with 23,ih
persons. was allowed only four.
Thomas w. Dorr, a lawyer and
Harvard graduate, member of one Of
the old families of Providence. saw
that his State was greatly retarded
in proeress by this medieval form of
government and he resolved to change
1t. He attempted to gain his end
means failed. He then organized
suffrage associations all over the
State, composed largely of the men |
who were excluded from voting under
the old charter. but also containing a !
few voters who realized the injustice
OF the existing form of government.
These associations assembled in |
Providence on July 5. 1871. and author
lied their committee to call conven-
tiop and frame "a new constitution for
the State This was done and SUBJ
United TO a vote of the people. The
-suffrasists asserted that "a majority OF
those entitled to vote under the char
ter Jlad favored it so it was declared
to be the fundamental law of the COM
-Inopwealth.
Under its provisions State Officers
were elected on April IS. 1872, with
DoT AS Governor Early in May the
new government attempted 10 organ
lie the 'Negal State government
chosen under the charter, at the head /
OF which WAS Gov. Samuel W. King
The suffragist party assembled un.
der arms and at Providence and at q
@"mpfed 10 seize the arsenal but re- I
HHD on the hInfUt.h OF GOv. King |
with military fforce. The State was /
declared 10 be under martial law an 8
porr fled. Gov. King Offered 500 a
reward for his capture. but the Gov
errors of the neighborins States - v
fused TO surrender the fugitive and 4
DoJr Travelled through Connecticut. h
Vermont md New York trying TO y
raise support in men and money. The I
Whole country became interested in IL
the struggle and many people in other I
States gave the Rhode Island rebels $
aS they were called by the King party,
their sympathy and support. Here
was band of men. they said, who ID
were protesting against tyranny anIie
trymg 10 bring their State into line Ii
With the political ideas OF the res, of Z
he Union. II
Both King and Dorr appealed 10 the ?