The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-12
RESULTS OF ELECTION.
Means Much for the Present and Is
Encouraging for the Future.

New York Financier.
Both Of the larger parties claim to be
satisfied with the result of last weeks cleo
ton. The Democrats cut very seriously into
the Republican majority in the lower house,
but the Republicans profess a feeling of
citation that they still hold a slender mar
gin of control. They point to the fact that
for years past no President in peace periods
has had a Congress of his own party during
the mid-term. while President Roosevelt
this winter will find himself able 10 rely
on friendly majority in carrying out the
policy of the administration. There is no
disputing the fact that the election may be
the President. The only question is how
far the personal element, aside from the
political issues involved, entered into the
contest. But conceding the popularity of
the President as a man, 1t is still true that
his popularity is more or less influenced
by his actions as the head of the admins
tration. In other words, the personal .equa-
ton did not decide the election, and there
is little doubt that the retention of the
Republican majority in Congress, slight
il may be, means that the country has in
dorsed the administration. Now. IL the
Presidents party was in favor of trusts
and held as its doctrine all the things
charged against II in the late campaign,
there might be reason for some apprehen-
sion, but since neither the President nor his
party have any particular leaning toward
one class as against another, it cannot be
placed on the neck of the average citizen,
because Of a Republican victory. On the
contrary, perusal of the Presidents re-
cent speeches on the trust question would
lead to a belief that the trusts will hear
something decidedly unpleasing to them in
the near future
1t is a gratifying reflection that the peo-
pie OF the United States refused to accept
the view that they are destined to certain
destruction as a free people unless indus
trial organizations are suppressed regard
Jess of any merit which combinations may
involve. 1t Is also matter of national
congratulation that the shortsighted policy
which would wreck our entire industrial
fabric in order to take revenge on a few
monopoles has been utterly rejected by the
thinking voters. Evils there may be in I'M
restrained combinations of capital. but
these can be and will be corrected with
out resort TO violent methods. The sober
second thought of the people has led them
to this view, and results again demonstrate
that a candid appeal to reason always
into consideration the fact that the election
came on the heels Of great strike, which
had infiamed the passions of men, that it
followed period of rising prices in all the
necessities of life, that it was coincident
with a sentiment that the so-called trust
combinations really constituted problem
in American life. the results are in a meas
ure surprising, and go to show that the
people think deeply before voting. Their
conservatism is praiseworthy, and their
confidence in the present administration
ought not lightly to be regarded by the
public servants who have been placed in
power.
We incline to the belief that the election
meant all that has been outlined above. 1t
means more for the future. since il fore
shadows a dispassionate treatment of the
problems that during the past two years
have forced themselves 10 the front We
have reasonable assurance for the belief
that economic errors, where they exist
will be corrected with view solely to the
largest measure OF benefit, and that in
justice will not be permitted where a rem
edy is to be found. That is all that the
people ask They utterly repudiated the
dangerous doctrines of 1896. and they are
not to be led astray now by equally faIla-
cious theories. That is something to he
thankful for. 1t is something also that
may lead the preachers of discomfort who
under the guse of paternalism and state
socialism, have begun to prepare for the 1904
campaign. to change the programme they
had already prepared