New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-09
rrvprs RArsER THAN CONSCIENCE.

The school question In wisconsin ana IL
linois. and the saloon question In several other
states have caused the success in those States
~ the very party which the friends OF tenn
nerance and of the public schools have most
reason to fear. Angry al the Republican party
because it would not do exactly what they
wish n portion of the Republican voters have
secured its defeat thus turning over all power
n n marty which will not and does Lot even
nretend that it will do anything that they wish.
Other causes doubtless co-Opented in these
states. rs in Others, but the scale was turned
nv Republicans who have no confidence in the
Democratic party whatever or sympathy with
II Yet interests which they esteem most
sacred have been by their votes left to the
tender mercies of enemies of the public schools
and instruments of the saloons
1t is not easy always to be entirely patient
with behavior which so closely resembles the
pettishness of spoiled child. The govern
ment OF great Nation is business for grown
and administering men. No man has right
in the use of his trust as citizen to sacrifice
or imperi grave public interests for no better
reason than to punish associates who fail to
agree with him. Just as the political Pro-
hibitonsts have set back their cause foi
quarter of century by making war on all true
friends of temperance who were not ready to
support separate Prohibition tickets, so mon
who claim to care most for public education
and for temperance have pushed their. antag-
onism toward other friends of both, so far as
to throw away completely for some years at
least all their power to guard the most sacred
interests of school and heme. For the Repub-
lican party the Christening may he good But
for those who have defeated it, at the peril OF
interests which they hold dear, the results OF
the election can never be anything but mortify-
ing when passion gives place to conscience.
II is of record that the Republican party has
long employed its influence on the right side
in questions OF morals, education, temperance
and religious freedom. Its constituent ele-
ments being what they are, that party could
not do otherwise as long as it had the power.
But it could not 90 as fast or as far as some
desired in this or that particular without sacri-
ficing its power to do any good whatever. The
majority of its voters must determine its policy
for without them it could neither have power
nor continue to exist. When the majority OF its
voters has decided against any measure or step
proposed, the question OF duty for voters OF
the minority becomes simply this, Is the in
Huence of this party on the whole better, with
respect to the interests | hold paramount, than
the influence of the Democratic party? p" 1t is
difficult to believe that conscientious temper
ance men or friends Of public education have
in their hearts answered this question in the
negative But il not, some have done violence
to their own consciences in aiding the triumph
of the political party whose influence they know
to be not the best.
After every such manifestation of temper
rather than reason the good citizens who COM
pose the Republican party always come back
to realization Of their duty to the country. II
they feel condemned by their consciences for the
evil they have done, they strive the more ear
nestly afterward TO help the party whose in
fiuence they luDw is on the whole the best
Such defeats are humihating to those who are
responsible for them, but in the. end they often
make the party stronger and Drawer to face
emergencies or discharge its duty.