The Saint Paul globe., 1901-01-19
WHISKY AND FLOWERS.

It has been said by our critics t. at we
are not homogeneous people; that cur
tastes and habits Of thought and action
vary too greatly for any people WHO
claim to possess the characteristics
necessary to national solidarity. Differ
ent climatic conditions they tell US, pre-
duce different types OF men; and, OF
course, the varieties of climate in tbs
broad land, especially since we have
carried the blessings of our Christian
civilization to the unbreeched natives Of
the Orient, are limitless.
There may not be in such criticisms
sufficient on which to predicate any be-
lief that we are about to fall to pieces
nationally within the first quarter or so
of the new century; but the most enthu-
siastic patriot among US cannot deny that
striking illustrations are offered firm
time to time Of the lack of uniform ty n
the tastes and habits of the people OF
the different sections of our comm n
country Such an illustration is offered
in the entirely different methods chosen
by the people of the two great states Of
Pennsylvania and Montana for the Gee
bration of the great civic event of the
election of a United States senator.
In Pennsylvania, as in the border land
of the District of Columbia, the people
choose the truly pastoral method of cele-
bration by strewing flowers along the
pathway of the exalted object of peo-
pies love; while in Montana, owing to
the drawbacks of a younger and cruder
civilization. they appeal to the god Bac-
chus and drink to the health of the pop
ular choice in unnumbered nbations, tbs
popular choice being called upon before
hand to put up the necessary price.
Senators Clark and Quay ought to be
proud men this day. Rarely, indeed,
among this Unconditional people, has SO
splendid tribute to civic worth and
to the exalted nature of public employ
ment been offered to any man than that
which, in interviewer immortelles and
damask roses, was laid at the feet Of
shat tried and true friend of his country,
its institutions and its people. Mathew
Stanley Quay The congratulations
which were poured upon him by his
former colleagues; the resonant acclaim
vast corridors of the national capital;
the touching tribute to his imperishable
fame as popular leader, which was be-
slowed on him when he was ushered to
the senatorial chair formerly occupied
by that other living immortal, Marcus
Aurelius Hanna, speak volumes of the
devotion of the people to true public
worth and virtue.
1t is of course something of a disturb
ing thought that In the state. of Mon
tana the people should not show them
selves influenced by the same high Ideals
in the recognition of splendid public
service which their brethren OF Penn
sylvania possess; but something must be
allowed to the difference of c1tnat. and
physical environment. There the great
popular virtue is that of hosp:t lily. \
hospitabie people there il hope for, even
though their modes of expressing the
more tender sentiments of the soul do
not meet the views of the true student
of the aesthetic. If the good people of
Helena and Butte choose to go on
prolonged drunk in celebration of a great
public event, especially when the cost is
borne out of the individual pocket Of the
great man whose virtues ard services
they celebrate, they are not to be re-
garded as differing much in that respect,
for instance, from the people of the
worlds greatest metropolis when they re-
Gently gave themselves over in like mar
ner to the enjoyment Of the festival of
the total destruction of the armies OF
the bei.igerent Beers.
There is one explanation which we
may urge as a tinaIity IN the effer-1 30
overcome the claim of our critics, that