The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1901-10-24
A PLEA FOR DECENCY
IN POLITICAL MATTERS
Indianapolis Journal.


While political campaigns are less
personal and relentless than they
were few years ago, most people OF
fair intelligence must experience a
sense of relief when the votes are
counted and the result is known. The
arraying of the larger part of the
men of a community into two hostile
armies for several weeks is not plea
SAINT thing for the contemplation of
the large number of people who desire
harmony and general good feeling.
Still, these are recurring conditions
which cannot be avoided, because it
is the natural result of preventative
government that there shall be two or
more parties which take opposite
sides on political questions and will
very naturally become more or less
absorbed in an election as the ques-
tions appear more or less important.
But, while in these days we have
as exciting campaigns as did our pre-
decessors so or rs years ago, personal
enmities and virulence have largely
passed away. 1t is probable that the
Blaine-Cleveland campaign, so full of
malignant personal misrepresentation
on both sides, made the sensible peo-
pie of this country heartily ashamed
of such disgraceful methods. Because
such methods have not been resorted
to in subsequent presidential cam
paigns there is reason to conclude
that they will never disgrace another
presidential campaign. Years ago any
man who ran for high Office would
be adjudged, by foreigner who list
ened to campaign speeches, more de-
serving of a term in the penitentiary
than an honorable public position.
We have dropped this disreputable
habit, for the most part. A man can
run for congress now without the
fear that his wife will be traduced or
his father accused of horse stealing.
His record may be torn to pieces and
perverted, but if he bears a fair re-
putation as a man, his character will
not be aSSailed. Doubtless vile things
are said of candidates in little knots
of men. but no one has the hardihood
to declare them in open 6ey or print
them in paper which reputable peo-
pie read. When one goes back TO the
days of George Washington and An
drew Jackson utilization of personal
character is found the chief work OF
the campaigner.
If is safe to say that political differ
ences do not make men prominent in
opposing parties personal enemies, as
was once the case. In the senate the
most cordial relations exist between
men who belong to different parties.
Some of the most emotional tributes
to the late president have been offered
by those to whom he was politically
opposed. 1t is well that it is SO, not
only in public life, but in communities.
1t would be an evil if political differ
ences should forever divide communi-
ties and neighborhoods, preventing
that unity which is essential to their
well being. 1t is fortunate that the
country has so many fraternal organ
izati0nS which bring men together
whom politics might keep apart and
that the influences are multiplying
which draw men together who are
politically oppose d; that the fact OF a
common citizenship, the heritage of
all, is more and more the national
cement.
All must feel relief when cam
paign is over and men are free to
resume their natural relations as
friends and neighbors without thought
of political differences that should
keep them apart.