The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-11-28
PRODUCT OF A POLITICAL INTERVAL

Events have so turned out that the
Republican party of Kansas now looks
to Senator Baker as an exemplar and
a leader. He is its sole representative
in the United States senate and will be
for the next four years at the very least
His votes, words and actions will be in
dices TO the real sentiments Of the Re
publicans of his state.
Knowing this. Senator Baker will pro-
ceed warily but none the less courage
ously. His one year in the senate has
already demonstrated the fact that in
choosing between what is right and
what is popular he will side with the
right. This will be his whole course in
the senate. Necessarily his words and
actions will gain the endorsement Of the
great mass of Republicans in the party,
who are always Loyalty loud in praise
of the party's triumphs and loyalty 81
lent about the party's mistakes. But
what SeatOr Baker should have in addi-
ton to this is the fair ear and just atten-
ton and equitable. honest judgment of
that formidable part of the Republican
party OF Kansas which demands and
takes the privilege of pouncing upon
the party for its mistakes.
This element should be fair with Sen
ator Baker 1t should not denounce
until it has investigated. There is moth
ing petulant, nothing heady, mercurlal
or effervescent in the mans neutrality.
Deliberation with courage leads to no
pitfalls. And if the protesting element
in the Republican party in Kansas
which has always been and will proba-
bly, always be dominant, when it be-
lieves he leads astray, advise rather
than denounce, council fairly and not
condemn blindly, its words will be an
aid rather than an impediment, while he
occupies the seat in the United States
senate as a representative of a state
which is the most easily displeased and
the most easily pleased Of all the sister
hood.
In contrasting our senate with the
house, Tocqueville wrote:
"a few yards away opens the hall OF
the senate, the narrow area OF when
contains a large proportion of all the
famous men of America. One hardly
perceives one who is not some recent ce-
lebrity-eloquent advocate, distinguish
ed generals, able judges, or well-known
statesmen Every word which is uttered
in that assembly would do honor to the
greatest of parliamentary debates in
Europe. Whence comes this singular
contrast? Why does the elite Of the ma
ton find itself in one hall more than in
another? Why does the first assembly
contain so many vulgar elements, when
the second has a monopoly OF talents
and enlightenment? (Ie ascribes it to
the double election of the senators.) The
popular will in passing through the leg
islature (Which elects the senators)
issues from it in nobler and more beau
tiful forms. The men who are thus
elected represent exactly the majority
of the nation which governs, but they I
represent only the elevated thoughts
which have currency in it, the generous
instincts which dominate it, and not the
little passions which often agitate it and
the vices which dishonor it," Vol. ii.
p. So
Senator Baker has honesty, delibera-
ton and dignity. The moment OF his
election, the manner of that election and
his own personality make him pre-emi-
nently representative Of that portion
Dc Kansas which is above caucus blck-
erings, impractical theories and the
moody crotchets of an exceedingly ex-
citable. superiatively nervous common
" ealth. For he was chosen in a year
when the people had departed from the
vagaries of Populism on the one hand,
and lad successfully smashed a coterie
Of Republican ringsters on the other
hand.
Senator Baker has proved himself the
true product of the political interval
which elevated him. As such he will
remain, and the fidelity with which he
us should always be repaid
by state wide. conscientious approba-
ton of his senatorial conduct when he
deserves it.