The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-07
Its Evil Effects.

While admitting that expressions
of dissatisfaction with the president
tial electoral commission, on the
part Of the democracy, are entire
ly natural, we cannot but think that
many of their speakers and writers
have proceeded to inexcusable ex-.
temes. They have not stopped at at
tempts to convince the people Of the
justice of their own claims, but have
denounced, with exceeding bitter
ness, all who differ with them. To-
wards the three judges ofthe Supreme
Court, serving on the commission,
whose DECISIONS have been adverse
to MIR. Tilden, they have been es-
pecially vindictive, accusing them
of fraud, corruption and treason,
and railing against them in language
calculated to endanger their person.
al safety.
Now, what must be the effect of
all this p? We will be answered,
most likely, that sensible people,
considering the circumstances, will
attribute these denunciations to the
anger Of those uttering them, and pay
no attention to them. That may be
SO, but even these will conclude that
those who allow their evil tempers
to possess them so completely, are
extremely foolish, and as there are
a great many Of them, their conduct
must detract from our national rep
utation to some extent, in the minds
Of the most thoughtful and reasona-
BILE.
But, we must not forget that the
great majority of people do not be-
long to that class which stops to
analyze matters Of this sort. Indeed,
those who do this form a very incon-
siderable minority. People general
ly listen to what they hear, and be-
lieve or disbelieve accordingly as
they are predisposed favorably or
unfavorably towards those who ad-
dress them. If they are Indifferent,
having no preference for or against,
they are apt to be impressed by
what is said. 1t is from this stand
point that we must jud Sc Of the in
fluence exerted by the fierce denun-
Citations which democratic authors
and orators are now uttering, If we
would arrive at a proper apprecia-
zion of the effects Of their utterances.
Occupying this standpoint, and
looking the field over calmly, we
find this be the result Of their con.
duct: The adherents of their own
party are convinced that their party
has been outrageously wronged, and
that by dishonest and corrupt men
occupying the most exalted politi-
cal positions known in our govern
ment. That the opposition party is
cognizant of the enormity of this Of
fence, but that its members sanction
1t and sustain their leaders in its
preparation, because of their ex-
IRENE partizanism. On the adher-
ents of the republican party the ef-
feet of these maievolent assertions
is just the reverse. These conclude
that those who utter them know
chem to be false, but are prompted
by unreasonable partizan prejudices
to proclaim them, that they may
thereby embitter their followers
against their political opponents.
The effect upon those who are in
different as to the two contending
parties, and in the class we may in
clude citizens Of foreign countries
generally, is to satisfy them that our
American political leaders are set
of knaves, utterly destitute of honor
and honesty and intent only upon
managing the government so as to
advance their personal and partinaz