The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-18

part: Every. general election in this
country is a trial of free gOVernm ent
and not less truly trial of those in
stitutions through which we are at
tempting to work out free govern
ment
1--WE have just had test of the ca
pacity of universal suffrage to deal
with, a question so cOnfessedly difficult
that i'm other countries it is committed
to trained experts and especially edu-
Gated statesmen.
THAT this should be a triumph for
national integrity is a cause for thanks
giving; that the result has been achieV-
ed by a partial and temporary dissOlu-
ton of party ties and the hearty con
cert of forces irrecOnciliably antagO-
nistic in other politics is ground for
quickened patriotism and loftier pride
in American citizenship To make for
ever safe the fruits of such a victory
is now the duty and responsibility of
those to whom the initiative and power
have come with a verdict OF the late
election
TT would be as untrue as it would
be irrational to suppose all the millions
of American voters who were massed
behind the flag of free silver were con
sciOus advocates of reputation and
disaster or We're less patriotic than the
mass Of their cOuntrymen.
Strange as it may seem, the cues
ton of maintaining the financial integ-
rity of the country, of keeping good
faith in public and private dealings
was confused in the minds of many
citizens with the policy of defending a
plutocracy, imaginary or real, whose
interests were the interests of q class
and to that extent, hostile to the inter
ests of the masses
In this honest belief of section of
the votes is the idea that government
is so administered and laws so framed
as to make an unjust distribution OF
social benefits, as to make more dIfh-
cult the upward path in life, and to
tow raf
that vast ma jOrity of youth whose sole
dependence is individual merit and in
dividual effort
If this points to a weak point in one
political fabric, it is our duty to look
fearlessly and carefully to that point
and to strengthen it as best we may.
IF on the other hand. it rests on
any real basis in our laws or in the
present working of our industrial or
gans those laws should be reformed
and that Industrial organization should
be brought into harmony with demo
cratic government.
IF we are to escape in the future the
cries we have heard in this campaign
of the power of plutocracy,o of the class
es and the masses, of the antagOnism
between capital and labor, and of the
gulf between the rich and the poor, all
wrongs or abuses that can breed and
foster such ideas must be patiently
and honestly Obliterated
1T is not that a successful defense
authority have been gained for such
legislation as viii place our monetary
system on a safe and impregnable ba-
sis, which, with our experience Of its
wisdom and safety will be protection
AGAINST assault and wild impractical BILE
theory We must all admit that the
entire body of our financial legislation
for so years has been a makeshift and
concession to mistaken ideas, that from
such concession and from dangerous
dallying with erroneous and dangerous
ideas and the perverted education that
has resulted came the peril we have so
fortunately escaped. For these mis-
takes all parties and almost. if not all.
party leaders. have been responsible"
The next toast. Social Discomfort"
was responded to by Governor John W
Griggs of New Jersey.
BOurke Cochran was the next speak
er and he was followed in a brief talk
by General Nelson A. Miles Each
urged patriotic support for the presi-
dent-elect. Senator Hawley of Connec-
ticut, Mayor Strong, Commander ST.
card and Admiral Porter also spoke.
The banquet ended at late hour by
all rising and singing Aud Lang
Syne."