The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-08
The Strength OF the Republic.

A national election Is always impressive
and nwc-inspiring A great battle will be
winged to-day in every State Of the
instruments OF war arc ballots Instead
OF bullets. There are two great contend
ing factions, each faction being like
mighty army. with It's privates, its lieu
tenants It's captains. Its colonies and It's
generals. The candidates themselves are
the commanders chief, and, in advance
Of tho great battle to be fought to-day,
they have been engaged in a sharp and
exciting personal encounter. They are
both fighting men; they are both brilliant
fighters although differing radically. in
their temperament and In their methods.
Tho public have watched this personal
duel between Parker and Roosevelt with
intense interest. and each side seems to
be we'll content with the points scored
by it's champion. It was by long odds the
feature OF the campaign Of 1904 and re-
lieved 1t Of IT'S dlllness. It was about the
only feature OF the campaign that OK
cited general interest, and the people
were so much pleased with the duel that
they would have been glad to postpone
election day in order that the duel might
be fought to a finish.
But the personal fight ended on ,Satur-
day night when Parker fired his last shot
at Roosevelt and to-day the commanders
will step aside and let the soldiers in
their respective armies decide the con-
test.
1t is most impressive and awe-lnspiring,
we repeat, that issues SO great as those
involved In this campaign should be set
tied by the peaceful arbltrament of the
ballot The voters on each side will 60
to the polls and cast their ballots as
ton. From sunrise TO sunset the con-
test will go OH in every State. and after
the result shall have been ascertained and
proclaimed the defeated side will accept
the situation" In good faith and IN good
hunnor. and no force whatever will be
necessary to make the victory OF tho VIC
tors complete and to give them its full
enjoyment The minority will simply
''bow to the will OF the majority" and
so this mighty and important contest will
end, and will not De renewed until four
years shall have elapsed. Provided only
tho election be fairly and honestly con-
Quoted and the result fairly and honestly
no thought Of revolution. Men will go
about their affairs as though nothing
had happened, and in little while will
have. ceased discussing the election OF
1904.
Thus are we differentiated from the
so-called republics of South America. In
most of these such n thing as n fair and
free election is unknown They have a
form OF election, but It does not register
the will OF the people. The party in
power controls the elections as best it
may, but there Is always revolutionary
faction to reckon with, and when the
opposition feels that 1t is strong enough
it revolts.
God save the United States from such
Il condition. But God will not save us
unless We are true to ourselves and our
traditions So long as the people arc
controlled by the spirit of democracy, SO
long MS our elections are conducted fairly
and honestly and without bribery or ill.,
timidation, our contests will be settled
peacefully But il the party In power
attempts to perpetnnte ITS rule by base
usurpation, by tho corrupt use of money,
by coluson with the wealthy class, or
any class OF government favorltes, sooner
or later such revolutionary methods will
bring on revolution. and when that time
comes, woe unto the usurpers.
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