Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-11-18

It was a glorious victory! In nearly
every State the war issue was made prom.
inent, the Republicans indorsing the pol
icy Of President Mckinley, the Democrats
coyertly or openly opposing. The glorious
result Of the elections is notice to Spain
and all other European powers that the
Presidents policy is approved by the
American people. The Democrats have
striven in every possible way to create the
impression that the people who stood
shoulder to shoulder in the war were d.
vided when 1t came to the settlement Of
questions growing out of the war. Demo-
cratic newspapers went to the extreme Of
Misrepresentation and SANDER to secure
a popular condemnation of the conduct Of
the war. The Republicans went to the
country on the record Of the administra-
tion, and no verdict ever rendered ut q
congressional election meant more for the
future of the republic than this indorse-
ment Of McKinley's policy.
The Republicans have gained control Of
the Senate, and they retain the House Of
Representatives. Their lead in the Sem
ate will not be as large as it ought to be,
but it will be a lead. Beginning with
March a, 1890, the Republicans will have
n clear majority in the Senate over all the
elements of the opposition. Not since
March 4, 1893, have the Republicans been
dominant in that body.
The victory in the House of Representa-
tives is particularly gratifying. 1t was
gained in the face Of the most yirulent
and persistent misrepresentation ON the
part Of the Democratic party which has
been known in any canvass in the past
quarter of a century. In spite of the fact
that the Republican party prosecuted the
war against Spain with rare judgment
I'M success it has been attacked by the
Democrats with a mendacity and maleYo-
lence, which, happily, is seldom seen even
in the most closely contested and exciting
campaigns. The Republicans lost a few
seats, as every Republican paper conceded
they would. 1t is impossible to overcome
-overconfdence and indifference. There
are, unfortunately, many voters who can
not, except in presidential years, be arous-
ed to the necessity Of going to the polls.
They did not in this case defeat the Re-
publican party, but they prevented its ma
jority from reaching the figure which It
ought to have touched. Still, the majority
is large enough to assure the people that
the Governments affairs will be wisely
managed in the delicate situation which
confronts the country.
During the second half of the presiden.
tial term the conditions will be more ia.
vorable to the Republicans than they
were N the first half. Only one branch
Of Congress is now in Republican con-
troll, but for the next two years at least
the entire Legislature will be in the mar.
TVS hands. Beginning with next March,
the Republican party, for the first time
since 1891, will have complete sway over
all branches Of the Government. This is
especially encouraging to all public-spir-
tied and patriotic persons. Issues of un-
usual perplexity and gravity confront the
country ut this moment. The legitimate
fruits of the war are to be gathered. Gov
ernments which will meet the peculiar
needs and aptitudes of the various locali-
ties which are coming under our flag will
have to be devised. The country's none
tary system will have to be guarded and
strengthened. These are tasks which de-
mand tact, wisdom md courage, and none
Of these qualities reside in the Democracy.
The only organization in the United
States in the past forty years which has
had these attributes is the Republican par
ty. The nations foreign interests will be
%vigilantly guarded. The silver folly is
buried beyond any hope of resurrection
All the clouds which the fear of a Demo-
cratic victory gathered have been dis
nprSed.