Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-11-11

Inc Nation Is considerably over one
hundred years old and the most ex-
citing and tremendous political con.
hict in its history closed last Tuesday,
not excepting wen the memorable
campaigns of 40, IA, and 80. From
the cities by the Gulf, the Lakes and
the sea to the most insignificant ham
let to the country store, smith and mill,
the interest and enthusiasm were in
tense and absorbing. Politics was the
universal topic of the laborer, farmer,
tramp, spinster, merchant, teacher,
horse jockey, college president, COW
boy, housewife, editor, lawyer, manu-
facturer, doctor and preacher as well
as of the politician and office seeker.
The whole range of secular journalism
was occupied by the discussion of the
n theme. and even the religious
prints were not proof against the popu.
lar infection.
The campaign has been pre.eminent
ly one of education, and every man,
woman and child in the United States,
who is not a confirmed lunatic or a
hopeless idiot, is thoroughly informed
on the money question. We have had
fallacies, heresies, snares, and delusions
galore, as well as glorious and uncon
trovertable truths. Lies have been
told in sufficient number TO pave the
ground floor of Tophet. The none
spent directly and indirectly, legiti.
mately and for the purposes of cor.
ruption, is in excess of the amount re.
quired to carry on the Government
the first ten years of its existence. 1t
is in excess of the amount paid for
French, Spanish, Mexican and Russian
possessions now embraced within the
limits of the United States. 1t would
feed, clothe, house and school every
poor child in the country for years to
come. Judiciously managed, as the
money syndicates direct their opera
tions, in the next FIVE years it would
plant the standard of the Cross over
all the Christless continents of the
Earth. 1t would build and equip a
first class railway from New York to
the Golden Gate and from Key West
to the capitol of Alaska.
Whilst men Of sterling principle,
courageous honesty and sublime faith
have fought with the gladiatorial
heroism of desperation in this strife,
that invoked the attention and interest
OF the civilized world, the fanatical
and delirious forces Of reputation, an
archy, socialism and the American
commune met their onslaughts with
a confidence, stubbornness and in
trepidity worthy of a grand cause.
But the strife with all its blare, m
confusion, the e~loquence of orators
and the brilliant product ons of news.
paper writers is over. May prejudice
now give way to reason. passion to
Judgment, sectional feeling to patriot
ism, evil to good and hate to love.
May the end be joy and prosperity to
q stricken nation; rest to a wearied
people-the rest of peace and safety:
a serene conscience and a sublime
trust that follows every act approved
OF the Ruler of men and nations. Nav
our fair and fruitful country, blest
with the highest and grandest and
freest form of human government, be
purer, stronger and happier from hav.
ing passed through the crucial ordeal
OF the recent past. May higher ideals
Of patriotic duty spring from party
defeats as well as from party triumphs,
and may all men of all creeds learn
anew the glorious truth that all the
sections of our common country are
inseparably bound together in a com.
munity of interests, and having q flag
and a destiny common 10 all, they
should have common hope, a cummon
aspiration and a common end. The
hope that a craftsmanship of sturdy
honesty, unselfish patriotism and
broad culture will always prevail, the
to serve we'll the country as
whole with a firm fidelity to all its
interests, and the end, a pros
'erity that will bless all classes and
power that. will uplift and protect