The Rhode Island Republican

Honest Policy.

The August election for members of Congress is rapidly approaching and yet our neighbors of the Herald have not dared to present the claims of the individual nominated in opposition to Mr. Pearce, in any tangible shape. The truth is they know as well as every body else knows, who know any thing about Cranston, that he has no claims or qualifications whatever to be elected a representative in Congress. We have repeatedly called upon his friends to let the people know who and what he is, but they seem wisely to have concluded that the less said about him the better. We appeal then to the freemen of Rhode-Island if under such circumstances they can, conscientiously with the duty they owe to themselves to the State and to the whole country, prefer such a man to our present able representative, Mr. Pearce. We feel confident that Mr. Pearce will be re-elected by an overwhelming majority. It would be strange indeed if it were not so. When a man like Cranston impudently sets himself up for an honorable office, he should we think be able to give his fellow-citizens some evidence that he has at least one qualification for it. We fearlessly challenge him or his friends (for in politics even such a man has friends) to give the people assurance of one single qualification he possesses. Let them, if they dare return the challenge, and invite us to give the reasons why he is utterly unfit to fill any office of honor or trust and we pledge ourselves to give them satisfaction. We are reluctant to expose the foibles and follies of Cranston, or to make them or him more the scorn of his fellow-men than they are already. But we cannot consent that our fellow-citizens shall be so wantonly deceived and imposed upon, as they are now attempted to be by the course of Bank aristocrats. This however is perfectly in character with the policy of modern whiggery. All that the leaders of the aristocracy and the bank party want of such men as Cranston, is their votes, and of that they feel assured, while they have individuals of his character to deal with.