The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-11-12
THE VICTORY FOR SOUND MONEY
AND SOUND MORALS.

The result of the recent election
leaves no doubt of the sentiment Of the
people of the United States upon the
leading issue of the campaign. The
attempt 10 fly in the face OF common
sense and common morality by de-
claring 50 cents to be one dollar has
been rebuked and repudiated as it de-
served. The specious arguments OF
the advocates OF free coinage have
failed TO mislead the voters Of the
country, who have brushed aside these
sophistries and once more put them
selves on record on the side Of sound
business principles, fair dealing and
general good government. 1t is in
the highest degree creditable to their
strength and integrity of character
that they were not swerved from the
path Of right and sense by the appeals
to their prejudices and their cupidity.
The answer which they have made to
these appeals should convince the pro-
fessional politician and demagogue for
the future that honesty is the best pol
icy in dealing with the American peo-
pie.
1t is a subject for just national pride
as we'll as for general congratulation,
that after one Of the most exciting
campaigns in the history OF the coun-
try yesterdays election should have
been attended by no serious disturb
ances in any section Of the Union.
Considering the tremendous strain to
which the public temper has been sub
jected during the last few months and
the increasing tension upon public
feeling and apprehension, the bitter
ness engendered by the contest and
the momentous interests involved, the
quiet, orderly and peaceable manner
in which some twelve million or more
of voters delivered their verdicts upon
the issues before them is so remarka-
bic as to challenge both admiration
and establishment. The superb mani
festation Of calnness and self control
constitutes the highest tribute that
could be paid to the American people
and to American institutions. 1t is
not too mach to say that no other peo
pie in the world could have displayed
| such moderation under such trying
conditions. They have fully demon
strated their right to political sover-
eighty by showing that they can gov
ern and control themselves in the face
of the strongest temptation to passion
and excess.
Now that this extraordinary cam
paign is happily ended, it is most ear
nestly to be hoped that the personal
and social divisions and discussions
that have been created 10y it will be
forgotten and forgiven. Intense bit
terness of feeling leading even to So
cial ostracism in many cases-was pro-
duced by struggle which arrayed old
personal and political friends and as
sociates against each other and which
developed charges and counter charges
we'll calculated to irritate and offend.
But Americans should have too much
sense as well as too much manliness to
bear malice against each other or to
remember with bitterness the words
which have been uttered in the heat
of the battle. What people of all
political parties and of all sections
should remember is that we are all
Americana, citizens Of common
country Of which we all have reason
to be proud and in whose prosperity
we are all equally interested. What
ever differences of opinion we may
have entertained or may still entertain
on the prominent issues of the cam
paign, we cannot afford, as patriots, to
perpe,uate illwill or bad feeling. Ac-
quiescing in the result as the will of
the majority, we should put away all
personal animosities and sclasp hands
again with the former friends from
whom we may have been separated or
toward whom we may have grown
cold during the political conflict just
ended Sun.