New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30
critics are, and live or die at the risk OF their
owners:
SENATOR DUBOIS.

Tho result OF the Senatorial contest III idano
is satisfactory In more ways than one. Not me
leost gratifying feature of the situation IS tlie
failure of Senator Dubois to reap the reward
no expected for assuming the opinions OF fopu-
lists. His successor may not be n shining llght
I'm the United States Senate but sound-mohcy
mon can view his presence there with compla-
crncy. for he Is likely to I've less obstructive anu
certainly less borcsome than his partisans who
have better command of English. Moreover
he will represent with fair degree of accuracy
the mental qualities behind the crude outburst
of Populsm and the more clearly these are TO-
vcalcd the sooner will the craze subslde
The career of Senator Dubois ought to be Il
warning. but that it will be one is probably eN-
Meeting too much The last man to learn couf-
age appears to be the politician, who Is the per
son needing II most The temptation seems
wel,-nigh irresistible TO trim sails to temporary
bre les of popular opinion. IN spite OF 'l' '''o"
ing Of all history that the men VINO nave o''n
the great successes are the men VINO fhu' ho'
those who follow the men who can brave preJu-
dice until they finally conquer favor Perhaps
il Is lack of Imagination. rendering 'heh UNI
bic TO see beyond a present obstacle anu HIM
ing Them believers only In the possibility of
~
thinking and settled convictions among men
absorbed in the details of political STRIFE WHICH
mokes convenience rather than conscience the
arbiter of opinion. Whatever the reason 'Hc
foct remains that the great majority of our
politicians make shipwrccI OF their OWN ca
reers because they will not realize that the
success WORTH having is that when Is con
oucred not that which Is courted
Senator Dubois had intelligence ana chuca-
ton. His talents placed him at an early age
in high Office. He was capable or knowing the
folly Of Populism and the danger of its crazy
appeal to ignobe passions 1t would De over
harsh 70 say he had this understanding. with
that fatal facility Of the politician Tor deluu'hS
himself into the conviction that the voice OF the
people sounding loudest and closest at any mo
mont il the voice of God he may have believed
i'm his own sincerity. At any rate no lo"nu
himself seeking reelection by constituency
which demanded free silver coinage l"r 'nc
simnle reason that it had selfish interest in the
price of silver. Throwing away all other con
siderations. Mr. Dubois set ont to dance 10 us
piping. and tool, particular care 10 dance WIN
uncommon fervor. Not only did ne SURRENDER
sound views Of finance to please the Idaho
miner but he became legislative dog-ih-'he-
m1nCpr and held up III" tN'rnlii'n' III INV "'
tempt TO make free silver the price of Nationnl
solycncy. and had no rcbuke for those VINO
threatened to make it the price of National ex-
istence. Such zeal he thought was sure to
bring n reelection. But the fanatics ne served
were ungrateful They dlsplace him for one
of their own number He goes into retirement
apparently without hope of political future
His new friends repudlate him. He has de-
serted his old ones. Doubtless he thought his
course was the only one offering a chance OF
reelection and he was probably right. But
in honorable reputation and also in practical
political prospects Mr.. Dubois would stand far
higher today If he owed his defeat to popular
anger aroused because he would not put the
prcludce Of Idaho before the interest OF the
Nation. instead Of being rejected amid the jeer~
Of those who were content to use him but not
70 nav for his work Mr.. Dubois might not
Under any circumstances have gone back 10 the
Senate this year. but in place Of tiauntings he
might have had respect. And he might also
have had future.