The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-01

MEN WITHOUT MORAL sESsE.
The man who has been hardest hit by
the recent astonishing overturn in politics
In New York state is David B. HILL Sem
ator Hill has made the same mistake that
Stephen A. Douglass made when he said
that he did not care copper whether
slavery was voted up or voted down" He
could see nothing In the question but
pure question OF materialities governed by
the maxim of mind your own business"
Douglass was an able man, but he was
destitute of moral sense and he made the
great mistake that there was no such
thing as q public conscience. a public
moral sense, outside of gross human self
ishness.
Abraham Lincoln was quite as able
man as Douglass. but he had . sound,
Astounding moral sense, and he fearlessiy
appealed to the people against Douglass
and won. for he found the people agreed
with him that the question Of the extern
sion Of human slavery was not only an
economic but moral question.
The able demagogue. Douglass, was
finally beaten when Lincoln by unremit-
ting appeal touched the popular conscience
and moral sense. So David B. Hill, able,
srtfui, gifted demagogus that he Is, has
been beaten. because he has ignored the
existence of public conscience and moral
sense.
Hill has mistaken its dormant condition
for that of death: he has treated the public
conscience and moral sense - dead, and it
beaten Hill, discrsdited him, destroyed all
the machinery no had patiently organized
since 1855 to perps.uats Democratic rule in
New York state.
Hills nomination OF Maynard was an
act OF immoral effrontery: and his defence
OF Maynard was instinct with immoral
audacity. Hill has 6 subtle intellect; he
has . strong will. absolute self-possession.
unainching courage; he has many ad-
mirable talents for political leader
ship. and yet hs has failed miserably
ut last just rs all other able demagogues
have failed, because utterly lacking moral
sense himself he does not believe in any
such thing as a public conscience or moral
sense. He has failed just as Aaron Burr,
Caleb Cushing. stephen A. Douglass and
Ben Butler failed. They did not believe
in any higher force In politics than gross
human seliishness: they trified too long
with public moral sense-treated IL as
utterly dead when ii was only dormant
IL is wise for politicians to remember
that the public conscience is never really
dead; IL only sleepsth until the right man
comes along, whose touch wakes IL from
its long day dream. The political scoun-
drels who have made San Francisco and
other cities upon this Coast by-word and
an object OF contempt 10 honest men In
politics for many years, would do well
to take warning by the fate of David b.
HUI and not push the people of this Coast
too far; for some day when they least ex-
pect IL there will be a volcanic eruption of
political wrath; violent instruction in
both parties against the nomination of
measures.
This eruption, this instruction, took
place in San Francisco In 1855; We do not
expect 10 will again assume the form of an
armed vigilance committee: but there will
surely come = day when long suffering,
maddened property will revolt on thu.
Coast against local rings" that rob their
municipality, depreciate the value Of prop
erty. discourage immigration and demon.
aliss public virtue.
Not today. but some other day. when
the right man or men rise TO their feet
| and lead. IS the Bar Association did in
the Empire state, there will be wreck of
rings aud downfall of ''ringsters" on
this Coast that will make some men wish
they had never been born.
The defeat Of Hill restores confidence In
the American people. Itw was James Rus
sell Lowell who said in concluding his ad-
dress on the assassination of Garfield in
issi:
II am not one az those who believe that
democracy any mere than any other form
OF government will 90 of itself am no,
he lever an perpetual motion in politics
any more than IN mechanics. bat. in CON-
moa with ali Of yun. l have an lmpcr-
tGrba5ls taiih in the honesty, ths intes.i-
esnce and the good sense OF the American
people, and IN shs destiny Of the American
| republic"