Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1860 — THE RHODE ISLAND ELECTION. [ARTICLE]

THE RHODE ISLAND ELECTION.

The following, which we clip from the Cleveland Herald, puts quite a different phase on the late election in Rhode Island. It seems that Mr. Sprague was not a Democrat after all, but only a conservative Republican: .

“We r re not disappointed in the result of Wednesday’s election in Rhode Island. It is no Democratic victory, for there was no Democratic ticket, but that party—uniting with what are called' the Conservative Republicans—adopted the nomination of the bolters—Mr. Sprague, a millionaire—and the tw® influences have borne down the reg- ! ular Republican ticket. “Briefly the matter stands thus: The reg--1 ular Republican Convention nominated for Governor, Padelford. Jealousy was excited toward the Convention on the part of a large number of Republicans, who claimed that Mr. Padelford did not represent the Republican creed. Two conservative Republican State Conventions were held at Providence, both repudiated Padelford’s nomination, and united on Mr. Sprague as the true exponent of the Republican doctrine. “More than that, VVm. B. Sprague, whom the Democrats have just been voting for, was a candidate at the regular Republican Convention, and his friends alleged that fraud defeated him. The Young Republicans, in State Convention, then nominated Sprague as their candidate, and Mr. S. came out in a card in the Providence Post, (Democratic.) and stated that he was a Republican, had always voted that ticket, and should continue to do so. On thaTthe Fo.sf stated that in case Mr. Sprague should be elected it would not be a Democratic victory, and it would not so claim' ft,'..

“A month after these. proceedings the Democrats held their Convention, and ratified Mr. Sprague’s nomination—the man nominated by Republicans as the peculiar representative of Republican faith. It i-s further illustrative of the fact that, personal pique and prejudice were at the botton of this unfortunate split, that the candidate-for Secretary of State, Mr. Jno. R. Caitlet; and for Treasurer of State, Mr. Sami. A. Parker, were upon both the regular and bolter tickets, and there was but one regular Democrat upon either ticket; to wit: Walter S. Burgess, for Attorney General, “That there was injudicious management upon the part of th.? regular Republican Convention there is no doubt, and that those who had control of that Convention carried matters with a high hand is also true, and the resultTuf their folly should teach them the lesson that if we would defeat the Democracy, it must be by a thorough union of opposition. The President of the Republican State Convention was Mr. Davis, who is reported to have once said that “the name of Wm. Lloyd Garrison would live in memory long after'those of Clay and Webster had sunk into oblivion.” One of the prominent members in that Convention as Mr. Barstow, a man who, at= the John Brown sympathy meeting in Providence, was guilty of that shameful remark, that the “gallows upon which John Brown was hung was as sacred as the cross, and that he saw no more impropriety in paying tribute to his memory than there was in a. Christian’s bowing reverently in memory of the Savior.”

“Those two ‘straws’ show the origin of the dissatisfaction, the Convention being accused of justifying the Brown, raid. ’ “There is your victory, Messrs. Democrats, and you, being thankful for the smallest favors, can make the most of it, for it's the last chance you’ll shouting. So throw up your caps, and thank your stirs that you have power enough left’ to foment discord.” / . As will be seen\from the above, there is in Rhode Island twoSyrDgs of the Republican party, called thcE “Conservative” and “Radical” Republicans; . when united .they cast an overwhelming majority against the Democracy; for instance, 11,467 votes for Fremont to 6,680 for Buchanan and 1,675 for Filmore; a clear Republican majority of of 3,112 over both. In 1857 they elected their Governor by 4,498 majority. In 1858 , thejTTV'ere'SUCcessful by 4,362 majority. But i in tire spring of ’59 a quarrel took place; the . two wings split on. Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer; both wings supported the balance I of the ticket, and elected it by 5,392 major- : ity. The following was the result on Lieu- ! tenant Goucrnor:

Sanders, .Conservative Republican 5,570 Hill, Radical Republican. _ 3,317 Brown, Doughface Democrat, 3,351 This election showed conclusively which was the stronger wing of the party. At the same election they united on a candidate for Congress in the 2d District, and elected him over the Democratic candidate by two to one. In the Ist District they split with the following Robinson, Conservative Republican, 3,4uS Davis, Radical Republican, 2,654 Arnold, Democrat, 1,532 This vote again proves the predominance of the Conservative wing, and also that both united can beat the Democracy in this District five to one... Taking these figure's as a data, we can see that Democracy has no show in “little Rhody” at all. Sprague js said to be worth eigh millions; is the largest manufacturer in the State, and employs sev ‘ral thousand hands in his works, and is said to have spent .§160,000 to beat his radical opponent. In our opinion this election will teach the Chicago Convention an important lesson, and will materially modify the action of that body. It proves that a radical candidate may 'even lose New England States; and, as we said last week, materially lessens Mr. Seward’s chances, while it enhances the value of Bates, Cameron, and Lincoln’s stock amazingly. QO”As will be seen by our advertising columns, Messrs, Thompson &. Son are on hand' with another large stock of goods, j They are fully up to the times, and deserve I the patronage of; the people. Give them a I call. ' ’ . . ’ , .