Republican Herald

The following article, which is copied from the Tiverton Freeman, deals in plain matters of fact, in a manner which must carry conviction to all who have the power and disposition to think for themselves, and who have not resigned the right to do so. It is truly multum in parvo—the whole story in a few words—and we commend it to the serious attention of every reader.

The great importance of the approaching election in Rhode-Island, induces us to lay before our readers a few of the more important reasons why our democratic friends should make a vigorous effort to elect the candidates named in the above prox; and also to state some facts which, beyond a doubt, convince us that proper exertions will ensure it a triumphant and glorious success.

With Mr. Sprague at their head, the whigs obtained the complete control of the State in the spring of 1838. The pledges, bargaining and trickery by which that ascendency was obtained, have since that period, been springing into light; and the facts as they are disclosed, show the utter recklessness of the managers of the whig party; and they receive, as they justly merit, the contempt of every unshackled well wisher to his country.

Among the topics which have agitated this State the past year, and some time previously perhaps temperance stands the most conspicuous and the most important. The great and good temperance cause had enlisted the sympathies and active zeal of good men without distinction of party, and under such favorable auspices, made a progress unexampled in the history of moral reformation. Yet, this holy cause, upon the success of which, such a vast amount of 'weal or woe' to the human family depended, was not beyond the attempts of the whig party, to prostitute it to the advances of their unholy party purposes. How well they succeeded, was proved by the result. After his nomination for Governor by the whig party, Mr. Sprague wrote his somewhat famous temperance letter, entrusted to the whig secretary of the R I. State Temperance Society, to be shown where it could do no hurt; and on its authority assurances were given to true temperance men, that Mr. Sprague, if elected, would go the whole for strong temperance measures. This letter was refused an insertion in the Providence Journal, and this refusal made satisfactory to Mr. Jewett, the secretary, referred to above, by the important consideration, that its publication would cost Mr. Sprague some of the votes of those who dealt in the article; and thus the loss would probably balance the gain. But, democratic temperance men were to have the fullest assurance, that with them Mr. S. believed the success of the temperance cause, paramount to all political considerations; and anti-temperance men were to be duly impressed with the paramount necessity that whiggism should triumph over all other considerations. The nature of the promises and pledges which so effectually conciliated these opposite and contending parties, may be inferred from the vascillating course pursued by the whig legislature upon this subject. Very briefly, we give

First, the act, passed in June, for the benefit of the temperance party, and which had the effect to give that party the control of the spirit trade in Providence, very much to the annoyance of the whig spirit dealers.

Second, The act passed in October for the benefit of the anti-temperance party, by which they were allowed to triumph over their temperance opponents in Providence, and destroyed the act of June.

Third, The act, passed in January, for the benefit of the temperance party, enabling them to regain their power in Providence and leaving the anti-temperance whigs to fatten on promises until after election.

By this kind of legislation, the two divisions of the party, that is, the temperance and anti-temperance divisions have been kept in their ranks; and as each division has thus received its month in and month out of power, and ample promises of what shall be done at the next session, if they will "once more to the rescue" both divisions have with becoming grace fulfilled their allotted tasks; and their leaders trust in the same means to keep their tread-mill in operation another year.

We have thus briefly traced the course of the whig party upon the subject of temperance. It is but a sample of whig legislation, but it is characteristic of the party which obtained their power by such pitiful trickery and deception. Will the independent freemen of Rhode Island longer submit to such truckling partizans? No! We are not a pack of marked cards, in the hands of political gamblers, to be thus sported with, to our own disgrace, and to the injury of the true interests of the State.

DEMOCRATS AROUSE!—It is now time that we wake up and commence business in earnest. The enemy have been some time in the field, and flushed with their last year's victory, are full of hope that the same tricks will again ensure success. But this will never be if you do YOUR DUTY.

With everything to contend against, the democrats of Connecticut nobly performed their duty at the late election. They have not, it is true, routed the enemy, but they have humbled the pride of the haughty aristocracy, and taught their leaders that the boasted strength of the federal party is but a growing weakness.

Another year of stern resolve, and vigorous action, will give us the State.—Har. Times.