The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-15
PATIENT in DEFEAT

more commendable than that of cheer
fully yielding to the decision of the
majority. 1t filled foreigners with won
derment to witness the rancor, turmoil
excitement and spirited debates of q
hot campaign and then see the minor
ity, however close the result, quietly
yield to the decision at the ballot box.
And well may such spectacle excite
astonishment when it is considered how
much is often at stake in the opinion.
at least, of the minority.
1t cannot be said that this acquies.
cence is due to lack Of sincerity in their
professions, or that they have been
simply assembling in championing the
principles and measures of their party.
The rank and Gle Of the American peo.
pie are as honest and true in their po'
litical beliefs and disbeliefs as they are
in their religion. There are. it is true,
impostors and christians in all parties,
the same as in all sects of religion-men
who have no sincerity, who never had
an honest motive in their lives, who
are everything to everybody, and al
heart stand for no principle. But taken
as whole, American voters are o.
strong. honest conviction and would
if need be, sacrifice life itself for Their
principles, as they have attested on
many bloody field when an inevitable
crisis arose that did not permit of set
Element at the ballot box. Once only
in the life of the republic has such {
crisis arisen, and probably never vii
again, at least not as long as there arr
free elections, an untralnmeled baliol
and fair count. For the American
people are self-sacridcing, patient and
Of long suffering as no other people OF
earth. s9si'ss aa. i y. - =
| Ths spirit of submit ling tos the wil
Eof Tie nal jority eAIlg incult tes
and example first set. in the contesl
between Jefferson and Adams. when
though men differed as now. they dit
not mistrust each others patriotism
and were still closely bound together il
brotherly union through ties of suffer
ing, hardships, dangers and sacrifices 0
the revolution. 1t was easy to set th'
example with men thus united to eacl
other, and the effect following eaci
election has been accumulative il
strengthening the hold of this principl,
upon the American people. Another
characteristic of the American freeman
that contributes not little to sustain
ing this principle, comes Of that deer
religious sentiment that God over-rulel
and orders all things. and therefore
whatever happens is for the best. The
forefathers also jealously inculcated
the belief that the voice of the people
is the voice Of God. Americans are as 8
rule optimistic and therefore cheerfullJ
bow to the inevitable. Furthermore
they are magnanimous even in defeat
full of hope and possessed of that pluci
which says, ''Well, it is only four year
until We will have an opportunity o
giving the opposition another whirl."
The only fear in this spirit of read.
acquiescence is that it may in time be
get an apathy or indifference which ma.
cause the manhood Of the nation to fai
at some supreme moment to respond t
the call of duty and in consequence
bring on calamitous results.
It's pleasant to see our citizens fol
getting the animosities Of the campaig
and again socially commingling a
brothers, nor would the World.Hera
have it otherwise, but what will be tn
effect on the rising generation of thi
spirit Of casting aside great issues fo
another four years, if the present tren
to an empire on the part Of the admir-
istration is not checked by patriot
congress? The only hope is in th
parents continuing, though in defeat, I
lnstill in their sons the undying prir
ciples on which rest our free institt
tons. So, though miDgling again 9
brothers, let not patriots forget I
neglect this duty in rearing their sor
to citizenship.-Omaha World Herald
Thank sgiving will come next RI
publicans will give thanks that th
great and good Mckinley was r.
q <l.os.dt ,,.o.;dan& chat that ho