The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-12
THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sum-
The eq,ianimity with which the American pco.
pie accept the decision OF popular election and
their cheerful acquicscencc in IL, however bit
ter may have been the preceding political con.
troversy, afford the best assurance OF the un.
changed maintenance OF cur political institu.
tions.
The truth Is that never before was this re-
public go securely established in unity and per.
pctuity as this election has proved IL now to
be anchored. Popular government is now safer
from subvcrsion by impcralistic, militaristic or
oigarchical forces and tendencies than ever be.
fore in Our history During the whole period
from the formation Of the constitutional Union up
TO the close Of the war Of secession tho security
Of the republic was constantly menaced. The
bond binding together the states was always
weak. Threats Of disunion. carly uttered and
pcrsistcntly thrown out, finally eliminated in
the Civil war: thus proving that the unity es.
tablished by the constitution was artificial and
not compactcd by a common national pride and
sympathy. The election Of Lincoln in 1860
merely furnished the occasion for carrying out
ouch threats, for In no way did it assail or at
all affect the constitutional rights Of the Sc.
ceding southern states Then the republic was,
indeed, in mortal peril, in peril Of "imperial.
ism and Of "the man on horseback" or from
"militarisrn " But it passed through the awful
ordeal unharmed and popular government, made
more real by the destruction Of slavery was
firmly intrenched for the first time. The last re.
naming restraints on popular suffrage were re.
moved and popular sovereignty was established
In very truth
At the election OF last week fifteen millions Of
votes were cast and the most majestic manifcs.
tation Of the power and development Of popular
sovereignty In the history of mankind was made.
Everywhere throughout the forty.fve states OF
the Union there was complete and cheerful sub
mission to the mandate Of the popular will. The
seeding states Of 1850 again arrayed themselves
in opposition to the president elected as the Re.
publican candidate, by giving nearly all Of the
electoral votes which will be cast against him; {;
yet nowhere in the old secession Confederacy Is
there now any trace OF rebellion or even dis.
content
President Mckinley will be inaug,irated on
the 4th Of next March for the second time with
the American people since the first Inauguration
Of George Washington. American liberty is now
secured as never before and the love OF it and
the determination to preserve it from every as.
saut are now stronger and more universal
among the people than at any past period Of the
republic. The only break in this concord is the
negro disfranchsement at the south; but that
reactionary spirit cannot long continue The
time is not distant when the southern states
themselves will be eager to get into the current
Of American sentiment by dscardng feelings and
determinations which belong to a past period
when the harmonious and passionate spirit OF
American nationality had not yet been dc.
veloped.