Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-24
For President.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
OF NEBRASKA.
For President.
ADLAI e. STEVENSON
OF ILLINOIS.
awHY JOHN J. INGALLS, FAILED"

Under this heading the Philadelphia
Inquirer examines into the reasons of
Ingalls, disappearance from the public
eye when defeated by PETER, though
he was admittedly one of the ablest
men who has sat in the United States
Senate for a quarter of century. The
Inquirer says:
at seems to us that the true expla-
nation is to be found in the fact that
ingalls, lacked the inspiration of an
ardent faith in anything. His turn of
mind was essentially skeptical. 1t was
rather analytical and destructive than
creative or constructive, and men of
n devoted following. 1t is the man who
really believes in something with all
his heart and who, believing, devotes
himself to the realization of his idea
that attains to great popularity and
to a wide influence with the people 1t
is this that forms the greater part, IL
not the whole, OF Mr.. Bryan's strength.
But Mr.. ingalls, was not greatly in
earnest about anything, and his be-
liefs were of distinctly negative de-
scription. The publication of politics
is an iridescent dream. That is the
kind of thing that Mr.. Ingalls, believed
and as the public has no more use for
n pessimist than for o man who takes
nothing very seriously, the roots of Mr.
ingalls, popularity never lay very
deep"
The comparison, as,well as the expla-
nation. is most pertinent. The fact
stated has a larger bearing. AS the
Inquirer says: "It is not only in re-
iigion that faith is paramount. 1t is
similarly paramount and equally essen
tioI In,
in a fallacy is a power" This plain
truth has at the present time wide
applicability in the United States.
Within recent years there have been
manifested two tendencies among
Americans that overshadow all others
in potential results. The first is to
break away from political parties, sub
shutting the whins of the moment or
the dictates of self-interests, for faith
!. q guiding force is the exercise of civic
duties. This tendency has been more
marked in the past ten years than at
any time in our history and its accen-
tuation has threatened the disintegra-
ton of first one party and then the
other. 1t has manifested itself both at
the polls, where it has reversed enor-
nous maJorities. and equally stril<ingly
In the vast multiplication of indepen-
3 dent newspapers. who voice and pro-
pagate this form of political skepticlsm.
The other tendency is OF much more
recent appearance, having. indeed,
manifested itself obtruslvely only with
in the past two years--it is the ten
dency to doubt the wisdom and uni
versatility of the tenets laid down by
the founders OF the Republic in the
Constitution and Declaration of indie
pendence. the practical application of
which has produced the generalization
{ termed "Americanism,' with it's trem
sendous political, social and commercial
bearings.
Is 1t sign of health that so many
men should believe that political par
ties stand for plumber rather than prin
ciple? Is that not the creed of weak
ness of civic paralysis; the creed that
kept John J. ingalls, down when he
had fallen? Is the man or the news
paper. that propagates it. doing a SER
I Vice or an injury to the young man of
so-day, who is only too prone to be