The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-04-09

thoughts, qualities and habits of life
they represent. This is best eXempli
fed by Webster and Clay, the one firm,
deliberate and fixed in judgment, be-
speaking the rugged New England
loyalty to principle, the other impas-
sionately energetic. but compromising
in his honest efforts to effect settle
ment Of a vexed question, expressing
the vacillation Of a border state tinged
with mixture of freedom and slavery.
American national character as it ex-
lists today was born in the result of the
civil war. Prior to that struggle
character was sectional, the outgrowth
of antagonistic social systems that
refused to coalesce on any subject
bearing on their peculiar interests.
The war by destroying the ulcer of
slavery, served as a crucible for neu-
tralizing conflicting forces and uniting
the thoughts and impulses of both
sections into one strong current of
national feeling. Each was taught to
know and appreciate the motives and
necessities of the other, and respect
the efforts put forth to defend them.
AS time draws the immediate results
of the war back into the past, healing
it's wounds and sweetening its bitter
ness, unity of country, interest of
sentiment combined to mold char
acter common to all, national in scope,
and pure in it's Americanism. Repub-
licanism with its tenets of equality
and individual freedom cements the
rancOr of political strife and directs
it's efforts on lines promotive of the
common welfare. Universal suffrage,
and the duties involved in its exercise
and discharge, together with the right
of sharing it's honors and benefits, is
powerful leverage for raising the crude
notions and narrow -mindedness of
provincialism into the wider field Of
thought and respect of opinion resid-
ing in a national extent of view. 1t
invOkes the spirit of equal justice,
lends pride to nationality, ingrafts a
consciousness of individual Importance
and lays the foundation of national
character on self-respect and independ-
ence of action. If free from the sOph.
istry of demagogues it acts as safety
valve on the prejudice and baser in
clinations of the ignorant, confining
them within limits of tolerance and
teaching the value of difference of
opinion. On the sanctity of the ballot
rests not only the political, but the
social morals of the country. Every
blow at it's freedom is stab at the
character of the community that per-
; mits it. The smile of acceptance that
, suffers fraud to threaten it's fairness
, and sully it's purity is the mask OF
palliation assumed by the sordid and
cowardly to cover a nature too wretch
, ed to assert and maintain the gifts OF
, American birthright.
| Unanimity in politics is the germ
5 of narrow views, and if reinforced by
} the demagogism of ring rule, the
, source of corrupt government. Where
we find a community controlled b!
Y party factions, we may expect to fine
1 its affairs suffering from official neg
: lect and corruption, and the peopl
4 one sided in opinion and careless O
/ their rights. Well balanced pOlitica
S parties are the mainstay of good gov
| ernment.
The sting of sharp criticism and fea
. of defeat insures good conduct in OF
:, flee and promotes an honest admins
tration of public service. Where thi
equilibrium prevails is found the high
! est intelligence and honest jealous
! ready to detect and expose bad man
agement and corrupt practice. Eide
y ity to the duties Of citizenship is th
- best expression of patriotism, and tn
~ strongest guarantee of good govern
. ment. Loyalty to party is not alway
- loyalty to truth, and truth is the Ga
~ around which character clings. Frol
. American politics there is much
hope for and much to expect. Ever
Y advance in it's morals is an advance
Ii the tone of national character, and tn
9t brighter it's example the brighter th
le future of the race.