The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-21

out of their rights.
For a time it was a question
whether they would peaceably sub
NIT. 1t wanted only word from
their leader to breed an armed re-
bellion. Only the sober sense of the
people, aided by the frmness of the
President, General Grant, who, it
was known would promptly call out
the Federal troops to suppress any
uprising, prevented riots and even
rebellion. Had the vote been as
close this year, who can answer for
the result9 May we not all, then,
be profoundly thankful that the vote
of the people was decisive one, set
thing the matter once and for all and
allowing business to resume its nor
NAL channels at once9
We may congratulate ourselves also
as people because this campaign
was fought out over principle and
not over matter of partisan politics.
A national campaign may be and
should be popular education. We
often deplore the frequency of these
elections, causing the suspension of
business for time; but this is not
an unmixed evil. The man immersed
in business has little time to consid-
er the principles of government or to
study matters of far reaching legisla
ton. The mechanic who meets weekly
or oftener with his club and dis
cusse economic matters is often bet
ter posted than the average man of
business. But be that as it may, in
country where the people govern,
the people must be educated in mat
ters of government. Our national
campaigns when made upon real
issue turn the whole nation for the
time being into great school or a
universal debating society, compel
ling even the thoughtless to study
and think, and giving the wiser ones
an opportunity for reforming their
opinions. We can scarcely estimate
the full value of an educational cam
paign like the present to our people;
we can afford to have business stop
for awhile to achieve such purposes,
just as the young man can afford to
give valuable years to study in fitting
himself for life's work, 1t is to be
deeply regretted when such mag
nifcent opportunity for popular edu-
cation is thrown away by making the
fight turn on old issues and past
problems and the voters are rallied
about standard simply on account
of its traditions or the work the party
it represents has done in the past.
We may all rejoice, therefore, that
this campaign has been fought over
a vital economic principle and has
been liberal education to all the
people who have not been too preju
diced to look at the arguments on
both sides.
With some exceptions the cam
paign just closed has been con-
Quoted with dignity and serious
ness; it has not been given up so
much as usual to simply vituper-
ating the opposite party and has
been singularly free from attacks on
the personal character of the candi-
dates. This is fact of which all may
be proud; and especially when we
recall the filth with which the coun-
try was deluged during the cam
paign of 'S4, when Mr.. Cleveland and
Mr.. Blaine were the rival candidates
for the presidency. No matter how
good a principle man may repre-
sent, it is cause for sincere regret
when man whose personal charac-
ter is furnished is set up as the can
didate of a great party for high
office. We need to teach our young
men that character and honor are in
dispensable requisites to success in
politics as we'll as business. We may
hope that only such will be taken as
standard bearers. 1t is a fact for
which we may all be profoundly
grateful that both William Mckinley
and William j. Bryan, as also Gen.
Palmer and Mr.. lowering, are men of
unbleInished regulations, whose home
lives are sweet and pure and whose
political careers are unsmirched by
corruption.
To turn to another matter. As we
look over the map of the country and
note the position of the States which
have been carried by the two chief
Presidential candidates, it is cause
for general rejoicing that the victori-
Gus party is not confined to sectional
lines. 1t is of course to be deplored
that so large part of the West and
South is on one side and solarge part