The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-12
A rEunrxr CALL TO purr.

A TEUMpEr CALL TO DUTY.
Tns November election vas not only q
political victory. and not q partisan one
At that. but it carries with il an obvious
moral lesson. q lesson that was quantity
phrased by James Russell Lowell when
in his Yankee dialect poetry he says:
s.Yoa'vs got 10 gii up sirly.
Ii you mean 70 take IN God.
We commend these lines 20 the perusal
OF David B. Hi and of every other dis
tlngnished American ct for better things
who behaves in politics IS IL there was no
hereafter: IS II there was no such thing
a. Q popular moral sense.
things: be was worthy of . better fate
than to 10 hopelessiy wrecked in
the prime OF his days on the
rockbound coast OF irredeemable defeat.
We have called Hills defeat irredeemabls
because 1t lie not . political, a partisan de-
feat. but moral rout. He is not defeated
because he is Democrat: be is not de-
tested because he spoiled the horn out of
which stupid Democratic congress and
president were clunsily trying to fashion
aspoon, but he Is defeated by the moral
indignation of both parties; no is dis
trusted and feared by honest Republicans
and honest Democrats alike because of
his frightfui immoral audacity; has abso-
lutte indifference to and contempt for
public conscience. TO reach an end in
view. the purity Of elections. the integrity
OF the courts were rnthlessly invaded by
patriotism and moral sense of both parties
into Irresistible opposition.
nm was born OF hard working parents;
he had an honorable ambition to rise in
the world: he had the economic, worldly
virtues of Napoleon; sobriety. industry,
self-restraint. self-command. = man of
distinct and pitiless purpose; but from
youth mp he was utterly inscriptions as
to the means employed TO reach his end.
He was q man of many admirable intel
lectual gifts: he had abundant capacity
for public usefulness: he had strong sense,
great power of will; he was an excellent
psrliamen,arian. an able debater, q shrewd
and sagacious politician; he lacked Just
one thing to make him statesman: he
had no moral sense. no public disinterest-
edness. no patriotism, and, worse than all,
he did not believe In the existence of q
public conscience. public moral sense:
that is. he did not believe that in their
deepest hearts the masses Of the people
believed in anything but self-interest
Destitute himself OF all sentiment, he did
not believe In Its existence; he deemed i,
an affeetation. He was like q man, who,
for gold disbelieved in the existence of
gold. lie was like a CyprIan. who thinks
no women are yirtuous unless they can
afford 20 be-
David II. Hill has foundered on the
same rock which wrecked Aaron Burr,
Caleb Cushing stephen A. Douglas and
Benjamin f.. Butler, all able, brilliant
men; all translently successful and yet
oil utterly rejected at last BY the American
people because they ell excited the
profound moral distrust Of all partie. as
men incapable of public moral sense.
The career OF Burr needs no recital.
Caleb Cushing started in life an eloquent
aati-slassry Wing; he turned his coat and
became the bitterest of Northern pro-
slavery Democrats, 8 member of President
Perce's cabinet; champion OF Jef Davis
at the Charleston convention.
When the war broke out he offered his
sword 20 Msssachuset,s and Gov. Andrew
rejected 1t, blansly saying that As con-
siitational iurncoat he could not be trusted.
Years after, when he had become a
Republican, Grant nominated Cushing for
the United States supreme bench. bat a
letter vas unearthed from the archives Of
the var department. showing that Cushing
during the hrst year Of the war Was
writing JEFF Davis commanding Northern
men for promotion in tire army of the
Conieasraey. lie was loyal to no section.
no party 20 nobody but himself
Stephen A. Douglas had the same lack
Of moral sense; be dsclsed lie did net
care button whether slavery VAS voted
up or down; he had splendid abilities. bat
no moral sense and Lincoln. who had
equal ability and ahouading moral sense,
took issue with Douglas and appealed TO
the people Of shs North and they voted
against the extension % slavery.
Ben Batter wss another man OF remark
able capacity for pnblie usefulness marrsd
nv his utter lack Of moral sense. lie had
Hans virtues OF industry. sobrIsty, per-
ss.seney and administrative capacity, bat
he lacked moral sense; he vas for dis
honest finance; he was willing 20 ride any
horse that promised to win in CATER be
lost the confidence Of the ''conseienee"
Democrats Of Massachusetts and Of the
conscience Republicans he wss = xreA,
ana successful lawyer. bat hs vas very far