The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-11-23
The People Their Own Rulers.

Ihtn were the people OF lsfacl divided into Two
| parts; halt OF the people followed I ibni
and half followed Omri.
But the people that followed oruri prevailed
| against the people that followed ribni so
| Tibui died, aud Omri resigned.
In those old days questions in dispute
were settled by pitched battle; in these
modern times the arbitrament of war has
become well nigh obsolete, and national
policies are decided by ballot instead OF
bayonrt,
We doubt il the history OF the world
records n spectacle as inspiring or instruc-
tive az that presented by the American
people on Tuesday last, when by an or
DERBY revolution they sent one class Of
political ideas TO the rear and another
class TO the front.
The party leaders on both sides may
have gone into the conflict for personal
emolument or some advantage for their
followers, which is carefully concealed
under the words patronage" and per
quisites," but the body OF the people, the
rank and file-merchant, mechanic, arti-
san and farmer--cast their votes for the
greatest good Of the greatest number, be-
cause the prosperity OF the whole means
the prosperity of each. In other words,
sixty-fve million people have made them
selves acquainted with the principles
which underlie their government; have
learned through innumerable newspa-
pers, which fall on hill and prairie as
thick as snowflakes in December, the
value and effect of differing national poll
cies, and on election day expressed an
intelligent and honest opinion.
In his work on "The American Com
monwealth" James Bryce puts the mat
ter in terse and brilliant language, as fol-
| lows
"The parties are not the ultimate force
in the conduct of affairs. Public opin-
ion--that is, the mind and conscience OF
persons who are included in the parties,
for the parties, taken together, are the
nation; and the parties, each claiming to
be its true exponent, seek to use II for
their purposes. Yetit stands above the
parties, being cooler and larger minded
than they are; II awes party leaders and
holds in check party organizations No
one openly ventures TO resist it. 1t is the
product of greater number of minds
than in any other country and it is more
indisputably sovereign. 1t is the central
point in the whole American polity."
The last week corroborates this criti-
csm in an unusually marked and con-
spicuous manner. Throughout the land
there was no undue. excitement. Con-
victions, not passions, prevailed every
where. The verdict was not personal 10
the outgoing or the incoming President
It was simply the verdict OF brains
brought TO bear on two theories Of politi-
cal economy.
There is something specially impress
sive in that fact. We have a right to be
proud of p, ople who can be implicitly
trusted in the conduct OF national affairs,
who build a conviction out Of the raw
material of statistics, observation and per-
sonal experience, and whose ballot rep
resented their power to discriminate.
There was never more serious or more
good natured campaign. Mr.. Bryce may
point to it as an illustration OF his state
ment that "America marks the highest
level, not only OF material well being, but
OF intelligence and happiness, which the
race has yet attained"
There is another popularity of recent
events which is worthy OF comment
namely, the willing and ready acceptance
of their i'll fortune by the defeated. A
Republican said, 81 am disappointed OF
course, because think my party has the
right of the question, but the bulk of the
people think the other way, and this is
their country as well as NINE" Then he
quoted the apothegm of ex-Speaker Reed,
which runs in effect, "The opinion OF all
is better than the opinion OF any one"
and that ended the matter.
What the people want, irrespective OF
party ambitions, is that degree of national
prosperity which will allow every mer-
chant and every wage Garner a share.
That is the consummation devoutly to be
wished, the sole end which is sought by
every change in the occupancy of the
White House. Give us more business;
ill the land with the hum OF manufac-
ture; give everybody chance to make a
fair living what is politics for except to
accomplish that result2
sixty.fiye millions OF people bordering
that problem, gathering facts with which
to solve it, reaching slow and deliberate
conclusion and then depositing their bal
lots without clamor or conflict as an ex-
preston OF opinion presents a picture
calculated to excite train OF thought
specially suited to this Day OF Resin.
Y. Herald.