The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-06-24
z Amonsthe Plain People.
E N. Il. Times. Rem uf,ts.E -,

:
The limits Of the revolt aeainat the
Republlcan nomination are not easy TO
define yor even to ascertain It's full
strength can only he measured BY the
vote cast and tue vote withheld in Ne.l
yembef. The press does not and aWsll
not gtve1itl complete expression In large
cities and thickly peopled communities
where the sentiment is strong itIisout-
spoken ana In Newly York and Masses
chusetts an approximate caleulstion Of
it's extent may be made. But as the chsr.
actef and dqways Of thinking of our peo.
pie are not widely different Ia different
psfts OF the country. the same leasen
must be working everywhere. wea
Where the Blaine sentiment is predom-
inaut IN the Republican party, az 1t un-
|qgeetionablY Is in many OF the Western
fdtes a6d pfabshly IN Pennsyivanis and
Maine, men who are Ia politics share it
fully Newspapers will give It vocifer.
ous utterance hecanse Their support de.
pends upon it. They cannot afford TO
resist it. Bnt among the plain people OF
the county everywhere, there ~ per-
vsding intelligence and an abiding moral
sense that cannot be swept into coniu
sion by mere bluster and noise in DO.
litical canvass. There is In the Repub.
lican party large element OF quiet peo-
pie who do their own thinking aud who
fiuslly act on their convictious.d These
men, on their farms. 10 their workshops
and ct their popular gathering places,
absorb the essential facts of the eitua.
ton with . tolersbly accurate instinct
and judge them with plain "horse sense
For the most part they are men of prin.
cipie. They are the men who sustain
churches and Sunday Schools and popu.
lar education, and sre ANXIOUS that so.
ciety and the common veal receive no
deiriment. res ~ sa5p 81
For these people there is conscience
in politics as in the affairs.of every day
life. They believe In honesty and the
sturdy qualities that make free govern.
ment safe. They are attracted by public
men whose characters are transparent,
simple and strong, and whose conduct
gives assurance that they are to be depeu-
ded upon in emergencies They distrust
those who have grown rich by turning
to their own account the corrupt and
corrupting influences that pervade com
mercial and political life, and have ad-
vauced themselves through devious
ways. Their minds are not carriedaway
bs the reckless clap'rap Of tIose who
have made reputation for smartness.
The Blaines and Buffers OF our politics
do not win their admiration.
Men ot.lhis kind may in all commu.
mites aud in all parties be in minority.
No doubt they are; but, il the mai ,rity
rules, it is the minority that determines
which side shall be msjority II is the
few Who turn tie scale where the many
are divided into equal paris Many hon-
est, sensible, conscientious voters in oil
parts Of the country must share the feel
ing which is so pronounced 10 some To-
calities. and with them it will grow With
their quiet nominations 10 the canvass.
they cannot with good conscience aud
the sense OF performing patriotic duty
vote for the ticket which was nominated
last week at Chicago, Those who can.
not reconcile it with their feeling, to vote
with the Democratic party under any
will take the easy course
OF Staying away from the polls. II the
forces which control human nature work
ae they are wont to do, the result OF the
November election. is likely to be one OF
those revelations with which we are oc.
surprised in our politics. III
will bring to light the results of inna-
enccs which no man could clearly gauge
while they we're working The indepen-
dent vote and the silent vote will assume
proportions which sill startle the poll.
ticians who fancied that they knew the
people and undeIs' ood the springs OF
their political action.