Rhode Island

was one of the original thirteen States. Its dual origin is indicated by its official title, ‘‘ The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” and by its two capitals, Providence and Newport. Roger Williams, the patron saint of the State, was banished from Ma achusetts Bay Colony because of his attacks on the theocratic government of that colony. He advocated complete separation of Church and State, and entire toleration for all creeds. He founded Providence in 1636. Two years later the Antinomians, followers of Anne Hutch in son, founded Portsmouth, and inj1639 Newport was settled. March 14, 1644, a charter was granted by which these settlements were united in one colony with a popular government. This charter was revoked, and in 1663 a new one was granted, which continued to be the fundamental law until 1842. This gave the entire power of government to the people. Rhode Island applied for admi ion to the New England Confederation, but her application was denied. In 1742 the western boundary line was finally settled with Connecticut; but not until 1862 was the eastern boundary with Ma achusetts determined. Brown University was founded in 1764. The devotion of the colony to the American cause was shown in 1772, by the affair of the Gaspé. Rhode Island was not represented in the convention of 1787, and did not ratify the Constitution until May 29, 1790. This delay was due to the desire of the agricultural cla es to retain the power to levy import taxes and to make paper money a legal tender. In Presidential elections, save in 1804, the State was Federal until 1816, when the electoral votes were cast for Monroe. From 1824 to 1850 the State was Whig, with the exception of the year 1836. An unjust apportionment of representatives and a property qualification for voting led to Dorr’s rebellion in 1842, when a new constitution was adopted which widened the suffrage, but the property restriction was not entirely removed until (1886-1888) the adoption of the Bourn amendment, which retained the property qualification for election to city councils only. From 1856 until the present time (1894) the State has been Republican in Presidential elections. The Democrats elected the Governor in 1887, 1889, 1890 and 1891. The extension of the suffrage has strengthened the Democratic party. From 1886 to 1889 there was a prohibitory amendment against intoxicants. In 1893 an amendment to the constitution provided for plurality elections. The population of Rhode Island, which in 1790 was 68,825, in 1890 was 345,506. History by Arnold. 169