The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-04
INToLERANT AND cowARDLY.

INTOLERANT AND cOWARDLY.
The so-called election contest in the
case of Representative Mahood has been
useful for more than one purpose It
has helped to bring out with great clear
ness the smallness of the conceptions Of
the majority in that body of their obliga-
lions to the intelligent sentiment of the
people of the state. 1t has shown to what
lengths of wrong and faIsehood a political
majority and its members may be ready
to go when there is reasonable hope of
immunity from consequences IN sight.
The contest in this case is little better
than a wretched travesty on honorable
political methods. The testimony read
before the house makes that much plain.
A contest has been trumped up by lot
of politicians in the evident positive as
surance that with anything of a show
ing at all the result would be the seat
ing of the contestant-because he belongs
to the political party which is in the
majority in the house.
The discussion in the house on Satur-
day was effective in removing any doubt
which might exist on this score. The
attitude assumed by certain members Of
the majority was a mere exhibition of
vulgar intolerance. It is true that the
Democratic minority is weak; but the
treatment extended to it in the speeches
of such men as Representatives Riley,
Smith and Roberts was merely proof of
the cowardice of that majority. Were
there any fear that revolt on the part
of any conscientious members of the
majority resulting from such exhibitions
of bad temper and bad taste might re-
suit in an adverse vote, it is quite plain
that such conduct would hardly be in
dulged in.
One Of the members during that I'M
seemly display thought proper to invoke
the name of Senator Nelson as that of
a Republican who had some other treat
ment than Indulgence in sneers TO extend
toward the effort at breaking down the
protection assured to gigantic CONNER
cial and industrial combinations by the
tariff legislation of the Republican party.
Mr.. Plowman was quite right The
memory of Senator Nelson's attitude on
this general subject while a member of
the national house of representatives
Still lives. Nor does any one who re-
calls the attitude of the Republican man
ayers of this state in the election which
subsequently resulted in making Mr..
Nelson governor forget what the attitude
of the party was in that campaign AS
nearly as they dared every mouthpicce
Of Republican doctrine in that campaign
approached the enunciation of free trade
principles. But, of course such an at
titudc was a mere bind, designed to
break whatever force the pTotectionst
sentiment among Minnesota Republicans
might show in opposition u tee cleo
ton of the Alexandria statesman.
Saturdays unseemly show was at lea-t
effective in demonstrating how tile IT.
portance the average Republican 20 i'll
clan attaches to real political or econnm,
ic principle when the effectuation of a
purely partisan end is in sight.
The lesson ought not to be lost on
Democrats. There is no passing differ
ence of opinion adequate to keep their
opponents apart when there is a party
political end to be accomplished Even
free trade, or the closest kind of an an.
proach TO it. is not sufficient to keep
them apart when the issue Of an cleo
ton depends. 40 Individual sense of In,
justice or wrong is likely to Interfere
when the majority is large enough to
assure the effeetuation of a political
scheme, however nefarious.
1t is not of the slightest political i'm.
portance that Mr.. Mahood shall be rob-
bed of his right to his seat In the house
or that the majority in that body shall
stultify its party in this state by voting
down an amendment which looks to put
ting tkeNproducts of the trusts on the
free list. The accomplishment of both
purposes is easy. At least the intelli-
gent sentiment of the people without re-
gard TO parties will, we hope. hardly re-
main blind to the real meaning of the
action taken in either case.