Daily Republican., 1882-11-16
R0Sea an The Party WALL
I'm tho philadaInhia Times

That ia an interesting and instructive
incident reported at Bellefonte. Gener-
al Beavers own county had voted
against him for Governor, a9d he was
very little ahead even in his own town.
But General Beaver, as a citizen, haG
lost none OF the good will Of his towns
men, and when the Democrats assem-
bled in mass meeting to celebrate their
victory they could not feel their rejoic-
ing complete till they had gone in q
body to General Beavers house to as
sure him of their continued affection
and esteem. The tribute was accepted
by the defeated candidate in the same
spirit it was rendered.
The chairman of the Republican coun-
ty committe had made good tempered
speech at the Democratic meeting and
the chairman OF the Democratic COM
mittee made speech at Beavers house,
and everybody went away feeling glad
thaS the hard hitting of the campaign
had left no ugly scars behind. All this
is as it ought to BE-.
1t is one OF the things we have al
ways to be glad of that with whatever
earUestness we may contend for party
victory, the verdict given at the polls is
always accepted as final, by VictOrs
and vanq quished alike. 1t il rarely
that the animosities Of the canvass
survive election day, though 1t is often
said that the roughness Of our Political
warfare is such as to make sensitive
men shrink from accepting a nomina-
ton, an instance cannot be recalled in
which Candidate who really deserved
respect was ever damaged in reputation
by the hardest fought campaign or lost
any share of the good will OF his fellow
citizens in defeat.
The incident at Bellefonte recalls a
memorable occurrence at Hartford on
the night of Grants first election, in
1868. Both parties were expecting sue.
cess, and the political clubs were all
prepared to parade as soOn as the result
should be known. Fortune favored the
Republicans, but the Democrats did
not 90 home in sulk. Earnestly as
they had desired Hrant's defeat they
knew that the country was still safe
after all and all good CiCizens were
equally concerned in the maintenance
Ipublic happiness and good will, and
they turned in with their torches be
hind the victorious Republicans and
thus robbed defeat of all It's bitterness.
This is not sentimentAlity; it is common
sense. We are not called upon tC
abandon our convictions or to change
our opinions of men or measures; but
all the efforts to influence the public
Judgment are based on the assumption
that the public is competent trlbuna
and its judgment entitled to loyal ano
ready submission. AS ID personalities
so-called, they never harm those whC
do not deserve to be harmed. AS oul
: views of politics enlarge, as necessaril
they must, and rs we cultivate the hab
r it of cheerful obedience to the dellber
ate verdict of an intelligent majority
we shall learn to prefer courtesy u
cruelty and kind and respectable criti
g cism to abuse of our opponents. Thi
: is something that will tend to bette
: government and something also that /
to be priced for its own sake. AS Gen
A Garfield beautifully said 10 the Ohi
: Legislature after his election to tn
Senate, when he publicly thanked hi
opponent, Senator Thursman, for hi
earnest defense and kindness towar'
K him in their canvass "Ehe flower
that bloom oyer the garden wall OF par
ty politics are the sweetest and mos
y fragrant that bloom in the gardens q
this world, and where we can plucl
D them and enjoy their fragrance, it
manly to do SO"