The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-04
SEATTLE. SUNDAY, WOW. :.
The Nations Hunger.


The intensity Of interest involved In
political campaign. and the desperate con-
centration OF interest upon certain propo-
sItions presented In silhouette. all white
ana black. are responsible Tor certain
distortion OF outline. Enthusiasm implies
extremes: and the enthusiast who sees
the people turning surely away from what
has come to occupy his entire field Of VI
sion becomes necessarily 4 pessimist. He
h6s permitted one thought, one dogma.
ons assertion. to monopolise his attention
and 70 dominate his thought until he has
become the victim OF the fixed idea. WHAT
ever threatens its supremacy cannot seem
TO him other than tho harbinger Of ma
tIonai degeneracy and the prophst OF
moral death.
10 II happens that. at this moment. when
the people are asked to decide between
csnaicting systems Of national action. the
centest 10 made to assume an air Of des-
psrato fnaiity. We are told that It is the
future existence Of the nation that IL ct
stake. free institutions. the moral sense
Of the republic. the difference between a
social system OF Christian civilization and
one cf heathendom are supposed to be
weighed IN the balance. After the sixth
Of November II will be- wholly well or
wholly III with US not merely as a poiiti-
cal aggregation. but as q people. One of
our mentors quotes from history descrip-
tion OF Roman society In the degenerate
days OF tho republic. and finds In II q
picture rather than a warning. Another
Hfts up his voice IN iamsntation because
the HUNGER for righteousness has gone out
Of the nations mind.
n we assume that these gentlemen are
thoroughly honest and sincerely alarmed.
A. II certainly the case with Prof. I.add.
whose note Of woe has been distinctly
heard above the chorus. we arc iiled with
wonder at their apparent ignorance OF
the eemmonest facts OF American NE
academic proposition ana formed the.
orcsieai conclusion regarding Il. To them
II has come 10 represent the sum OF all
high thinking and right action. Differ
ence Of epinion about It. from the moral
point Of view. Is inconeetyable. Therefore
when they see the nation move steadily
away from their own conclusion 10 It's
opposite. they believe that the nation Is
lost.
10 argue with these cstfmable closet
philosophers about the non.essential quail.
tsy Of their tenet would be proatless, FOR
shsy are not eeen to conviction. But /,
sssms TO US tina, they should not be In
sainessbls to the visible fact Ana az all
The tActs now brought into vivid relief
~ the ssarchhxhts Of time OF active
thought and discussion. easily the mos,
commanding 10 the susceptibility Of the
American ruhlio 70 moral determination.
iis aaxisty % iua the right thing and dc
u; is hunger and shirss after that right.
eoasaess which alone sxalteth a nation.
Let Us Put tAis as eonorstely n possi.
Die Does any man who has kept his mind
and heart fresh BY daily intercourse with
hts fellows Doubt for enc moment IN.
soananesS the sseroinsss Of the naisona
moral sensss II IS. indeed. the para.
m0rnt' evidence Of the Aenr. Partisan.
thero ara and dishonest men likewise. bat
tae great body OF thu people are pure ans
true. and Il IL their conception OF right
eopsaess that governs their nablic acts
The reason why free silver was reieetey
four years ago was far less that It va
financially oalanitous than because IT wal
wrong. 'sRepudianon' ard ''dishonor'
were more hateful and fearful words thar
panic" and ''dspressicn." as they ough
to be. The American people are tsda,