Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-01-30
SENATORIAL Err

SENATORIAL AFTERMATH,
Senator-elect Hansbrough made a re.
markable campaign. His brief career in
politics has taught him that the success
full politician must be a good Judge OIL
human nature and a good organizer. The
prejudices of men must be understood
and their likes and dislikes found out
Mr.. Hansbrough spent most of his time
in the lobbies, meeting the members and
talking with them constantly. An i'm.
portant ally in his successful fight was
Alex. Mckenzie, who foresaw early in
the contest that the most available man to
beat Pierce with was Mr.. H%ansbrough.
No knows, and probably no one will
ever know, the true inwardness and cause
of Mr.. McKenzie's opposition to the man
for whom he did so much in the CAM
paign of Il year ago, but it
has for some time been evident
to those best posted in the politics
of the state, that without the support of
the Mckenzie forces Pierce could not
win.
1t is hoped that this personal political
warfare will soon come to an end in
North Dakota. If it does not, then
there is no use of trying to maintain par
ty lines or make a fight on party princi-
pies. Mr.. Hansbrough has had
one years experience in congress,
Is an energetic worker, and it is believed
will not disappoint his friends in the
high position to which they have ele-
vatedhim. He has a great advantage over
Pierce in that he goes in for six years.
This will give him an opportunity to
overcome the disappointments of un-
successful place-hunters during the
first portion of his term, and take
care of all elements. With ordinary
sagacity and diligence he will be
stronger five years hence than now.
Pierce did not have this opportunity.
The state was new. He was the first
senator, and only a year to serve.
The long delay of statehood, and the de-
privation of self-government developed
an abnormal greed for the juicy political
plums SO long enjoyed by appointees
from without the state. Mr.. Pierce
found himself confronted with an army
of place-hunters more thirsty than Jack
son democrats and more hungry than
starving wolves. That he e~ndeavored to
do, and succeeded in doing, as we'll by
his friends as any other person similarly
situated could have done cannot be sue
cessfully combatted. His defeat can
only be attributed to the disappointment
of office-seekers, jealousies engendered in
the disposition of patronage and, in many
instances, personal and political weak
ness of Apprentices. To no other
course, save s~ectionalism in a degree,
can his defeat be ascribed. His states
manship, his honesty and his faithful
ness have not been questioned by re-
sponsible critics, but his political sagacity
has not been equal to the emergency
not equal to the tension that the condi-
tons of a new state impose. He placed
reliance in weak men. He was the VIC
tim of the most injudicious newspaper
adulation and frequently the most
vicious and dishonest journalistic criti-
cism. AS the TRIBUNE maintained
throughout, it was a campaign without
argument and a condition without a
reason.
Mr.. Hansbrough will succeed a
thorough gentleman, a statesman and a
prince among good fellows. He has
fewer disadvantages and more oppor-
tunities than had his predecessor, and
that he will have the sagacity, the capa-
bility to excel and do honor t. himself
and to his state the TRIBUNE has no
doubt. He is in the prime of manhood.
has gained knowledge by experience and
contact, is a man of pleasant address,
firm convictions and t~ireless energy.
Like Pierce, he has become popular in
Newspaper Row. with members of
congress and the heads Of departments
in Washington; but he is only human,
and in Gods name let not the people OK
pect too much of him and repeat the or
rors of the past.