Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1892-11-24
GOLDSBoRO. N. c.. NOV. "a. 1s 2.
DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY
AND RESPONSIBILITY.

O41-
According to the latest election
returns, the great Democratic
victory Of last week was even more
sweeping than at frft reported,
Not only are the Presidency ard
House OF Representatives assured
to the party of the people, but even
the national Senate will probably
have a Democratic majority o.
four in the next Congress. This
means that the whole machinery Of
government for the coming four
years at least shall be controlled
by the victorious Democracy.
1t is a grand opportunity, a
grave responsibility. The reepon-
sibility and opportunity both c,mr
to a party which has learned wiss
dom from the mistakes of its oplo-
nents as well as from some Of It's
own. Under normal conditions tie
United States is as surely 2 Demo
cratic nation as it ia Il republic.
When the integrity Of the
country was thrca'ened it
forgot its political bias in order
to protect its national life. But for
the prfjno;ces engendcre1 BIZ the
war, reinforced by a reign Of car
pet bag terrorism, it would have
returned to it's natural allegiance
as soon as the contest was over.
The bayonct government Of the
South vas not ended until 1876;
and it took eight years more for
the whole country to adjust itself
to the situation.
In 1884 the votes OF the reoplt.
restored Democratic government ;
but the popular will was pnwerlass
TO continue 1t in 1888, and not nm
til the pre-eut year has it beeu
possible to express that Will beyond
misunderstanding. It is undeniahle
also that Mr.. C~leveland's fist adj
rninisira'ion vas marked by III
grievons mistakes Of Judgment,
especially in the conduct Of foreign
affairs; mistakes which THE ARGUS,
in common with other independent
but loyal supporters of the party,
did not hesitate to point out and
condemn.
1h9 danger OF such errors is LA,
BILE to recur, but Mr.. Cleveland is
not liable to fall into them. The
problems confronting his next ad-
ministration are far more likely to
be of u domestic than of a foreign
character. The Ieadjastmcnt Of
the tariff will demand the highest
wisdom and ripest experience of
craftsmanship. Tho silver question
must be settled and prudenily.
Trusts and monopolies are ever
growing evils threatening the very
life of the nation. The Danger of
Force Bill, in the presence OF which
all other dangers faded into insig-
nificance, has been happily averted
by the verdict of the people.
To meet and settle the serious
economic problems of the day,
some but not all of which are
dependent upon an unscientifc
tariff system, will be the mission
of the new Democratic administr.
ton. Ii labor grievances and
troubles were simply the outcome
of Protection or Free Trade, their
cure would be easy , but, as all
ratinal persons know, they are as
common to free trade England as
to protectionist France or Amer
lea. Such evils are rot to be re-
NEEDED By any political panaces.
Mr.. Cleveland is too much of a
statesman to believe in any en-
pirical cure for grave disorders in
the b,dy polite. lie will enter
npon his second term of the
highest office Oh earth with a full
appreciation of the grave respni-
sibili.ies due not merely to psrty
but tn country not merely 70 the
country of his own time, but to
the country whoee government
shall be held in trnst by him and
his party for the benefit of genera
lions yet unborn. 1t is a solemn,
a tremendous responsibility involv-
ing tie welfare of millions of peo-
pie not only in America but
throughout all the civilized world,
which looks to America as the
hope and exenPlar of human
freedom.