Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-11-16
RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE.
In the course of the week just closed,

RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE.
In the course of the week just closed,
another expression of the sentiment OF
the American people has taken place. 1t
has been an exceptional election in more
ways than one It has seen the most pro-
nounced Of the occasional revulsions of
feeling which have characterized the
political history of the United States. It
has seen states which have been hereto
fore immovably and un%changeably dem
%ocratic, come forth with majorities for
the republican ticket, whose significance
is unmistakable. 1t has seen states,
always republican by fair majorities,
double and even treble those majorities.
1t has seen democratic majorities of
many thousands overcome, and replaced
by republican majorities of even greater
numbers of thousands. It has been a
political avalanche, in comparison with
which the landslide of two years ago
was but a feeble expression Of a desire
for a change in the political complexion
of the government.
In some instances, as in the greater
cities of Chicago and New York, it has
swept away existing governmental ma
chinery as by a whirlwind. Notwith-
standing the numerous corrupt prac-
tees which have been resorted to by
such rings as the larger Tammany in
New York, and the smaller tiger il Chi
cago to perpetuate themselves in the Off
cial control Of these cities, all efforts to
stem the tide of public opinion have
been futile. Notwithstanding the thous-
ands and tens of thousands of municipal
attaches and tax-eaters who have strained
and laboled to bring about victory for
the rings and cliques out of whose very
%rottenness they have achieved an easy
support, the people have spoken, and the
great middle class, which IS seldom
stirred to unusual activity, but which,
when thoroughly aroused, is a power be-
You'd the manipulation of ringsters or
tricksters, has demanded and will secure
a change from the deplorable municipal
corruption which has been proven be-
yond a doubt to exist.
In these particular instances-in the
ability of the people to overthrow these
most dangerous political organizations
is afforded the proof of the safety of the
free ballot-of universal suffrage. In
the ability of the better classes of people
in the larger cities, to achieve a victory,
where once they see the necessity for
the defeat and temporary annihilation
of an enemy whose rank growth threat
ens the freedom of the ballot-lies an
irrefutable proof that the sentiment of
the majority of the American people is
for the r1ght-croakers, cal%amityites and
misanthropists to the contrary notwith-
standing.
But aside from the lessons which are
taught in these local instances, there is
abundant food for thought, in the result
of the election, as it concerns the nation.
Such an overwhelming defeat as has
been endured by democracy and by
populism is not insignificant. 1t was
not the result of a careless or unthink-
ing exercise of the right of suffrage. It
was not brought about by chance, nor
was it achieved by the d%eluding of voters
by such sophistries and misrepresenta-
tons as were resorted to two years ago.
1t was the outcome of one of the bitter
est experiences which has often been un-
dergone br the mass of the people. It
was a vindication, a condemnation and
a reputation. 1t was a vindication of
the principles Of republicanism. It was
a condemnation. of the imbecility and
lncompetency of the democracy. and it
was an absolute and utter reputation of
the follies and fallacies Of populism.
1t is the tendency of the American
people to experiment. Better developed,
perhaps, is the speculative and expert
mental disposition in some individuals,
but the trait is characteristic of the
whole people, and it was as greatly to
this as to any other tendency that the
landslide of two years ago was attribu-
table. AS constant dropping wears away
a stone, so the constant repetition by
democratic and populist orators of the
certain benefits which we're to ensue out
of the adoption of the plans they sug.
gested had its effect upon the mass of
the voters. No one is SO ambitious to q
betterlnent of his condition as the man
who has just tasted prosperity, for it ls
then that he appreciates the advantages
which prosperity gives to him. The
great middle class, the laboring man and
his fellows, were nor prosperous in 1892
than at any time in the history Of the ma
ton. They tasted Of the sweets of indi-
vidual ACKNOWLEDGMENT, good wages, and
of the several benefits which ensued GU
of prosperous conditions. They felt that
they could afford to give democracy and
populism a trial. Certainly, they said,
with our abundance OF resource and the
ability which aYiata for ifs dovolonnoo at