The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-12-01

before the Union League Club:
Gentlemen Of the Union League
An after-dinner speech is to me j
always difficult performance, and /
an after election speech after dinner
IS still more difficult task, and I
shall do little more than make. ack-
noWledgment to this patriotic asso-
clat1on for its unceasing loyalty to
the Government, for the earnest sup
port 1t has given to the present adj
m1nlstration in the trying years
through which it has passed, and
express my sincere thanks for the
great honor this meeting and DEM
onstration bring to me, which
should be shared by my distin-s
guished associate ON the national
ticket, the Vice President elect, as
by those connected with me in the
conduct of public affairs. " go
1--WE are always in danger Of ex-
aggeration on an occasion Of exul-
tation over political victory, and
while the result is mainly due to
the efforts of our splendid party,
there is sometimes a tendency to-
give too little credit to other forces
which, silent though they may be-
however are none the less potential.
We must not withhold generous,
acknowledgment from that great
body of our citizens, who, belong
ing to another party, powerfully
assisted in the achievement of the.
result which you celebrate tonight;
nor for that other large body, forth
er members of our own party who,
with honesty of purpose, separated
from us few years ago on financial
issues, but have returned and are
home again to stay. c-,r
Nor is any accounting for the
victory either ust or accurate
which leaves out of the calculation
the almost unbrokeu column of la
Dor engaged on mechanics and agri7
culture, which rejected the false
doctrine of class distinction as hav-
ing no place in this Republic, and
which rebuked those teaching
which would destroy the faith of
American manhood in American
character and American institu-
tions. The business men in every
part of the country, typifed by this
great organization, were a mighty
factor in the recent contest. And
may we not also ascribe much to the
influence of the home, with its. af-
f1iations? In any previous election
was it greater or in any way did
the counse1s of the freside deter
mine more largely the vote of the
electors?
"Nothing in government can be
more impressive than national
election, where the people delegate
their power and invest their con-
stitutiona1 agents with authority to
execute their behests. The very
character of the transaction clothes
it with so1emnity. 1t is a serious
business; its issues are always mo-
mentous. What a lesson in self
government it teaches. Sixteen
million voters on the same day,
throughout every section of the
United States, depositing7 their
t mandate and recording their will
, Done by the people in their owr
: communities, in the very precincts
of the home, under the supervision
of their fe11ow-citizens and. chosen
/ officials, to insure its freedom and
independence, the ballot a secre'
one. God forbid that any citizer
/ selected for that sacred trust should
ever attempt to divert the will Q
= the sovereign people OF tampel
wi with the sanctity of their ballots.
"some disappointments follow al
elections. But all men rejoice whel
: an election is so decisive a
to admit of neither dispute
nor contest. The value of a nation
= al victory can only be right,