Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-22
Sfisled From the True.

Discussing tine national election, the
New Orleans Times Democrat says:
The people of the United States to-
day made deliberate choice between
the two alternatives presented To them.
| The verdict was too emphatic TO ad-
nit Of the slightest question as To its
meaning. The present administration
| aud what Il stands for have been in
dorsed by n large majority, electoral
| and popular. Tor four years more the
| country will be committed To the
charge OF the Republican party. and
| for four years more Theodore Roose-
Welt will hold the executive position
that first came To- him 10y thrice I'M
| fortunate chance.
Those who voted against the success
full ticket Will accept the verdict OF
the people with good grace. 1t was Il
fair election. - the epithet applies TO
elections. That il To- say. the frauds
against the integrity Of the ballot were
on such a monumental scale that they
do not deserve. in popular idea, the
smallest apprehension. They We're OF
the sort committed before the voters
get TO the polls. born of the influence
ed by corporate interests for the undis-
guised purpose of corrIipting the elector-
ate in advance i'm doubtful states. Be
tween this act. So imposing and so far
reaching. and the purchase of few
votes about the polls there is all the
chasm that separates responsibility
from disrcpute. manipulation unreach
able by law from the petty practice
that subjects one TO the hunilia ton Of
prosecution. With this trifiing excep-
ton there Is no ground for complaint.
The defeated minority will therefore
abide the result with calm and make
no unmaniy murmur either as To the
result or the means whereby il was
largely Influenced.
We have said the defeated minority
will accept the verdict. They will by
no means accept the correctness Of that
verdict. Majorities are right only in
the sense that in II republican govern
meut they must necessarily be allowed
the direction OF affairs. But mere
votes do not settle vital principles in
politics and morals any more than they
settle them in the realm of physics.
Neither do they give a fixed and final
impression To opinion. which shifts
and changes like the tides OF the sea.
making the minority of today the mi
nority OF tomorrow. the scorn OF one
generation the inspiration Of the next.
For this reason very large section
OF the American people will adhere
most stubbornIy To the view that
mistake has been made in the popular
verdict: that. confronted with the
choice between two caskets. one con
tanning principles preventative of the
true genius Of republican institutions
and the other the gaud of plutocratic
corruption and wild imperial dreams.
the American people have been misied
from the true by the glitter and trump
cry Of the cxternals Of the unworthy.
And they will continue to insist that no
majority. however large. can hallow
orficial extravaganza. disregard of the
constitution. the preponderant iniiu-
ence OF immense aggregations of capi-
tai In national elections. the enforced
tribute from the many to the few
through the operation Of a tariff for
mulated in the latter's interest exclu-
sfyeiy
The pendulum has swung far at this
election. IL Is To be hoped To the end Of
It's possible arc. The return must he
made unless the country would be led
into heresies more and more Subver
sive or republican government. TO go
further would lie To- ding away the her
itage we have for the pottage OF petty
ventures along the imperial track. 10
become the blind and willing tools OF
wealth and corruption in place Of cid-
zens with the will 10 right mistakes
when they are once laid fully bare.
The Democrats will therefore not
abandon the fight for the adoption of
their views nor the hope OF ultimate
triumph For the next four years as
the minority party in congress they
can perform n valuable service to the
country. They VIII be able 10 keep
check on a too confident majority and |
prevent II from wholly losing regard |
for popular rights in its subservience |
10 vested interests They will be able |
throughout the country TO continue the |
work OF persuasion, to grid themselves |
for the next conflict, when the issue |
between the people and those who |
seek profit from unfair Determinations |
got from trucking and unworthy /
government Will he more clearly de- |
fined than ever. And they will gather |
strength even from defeat, recognizing |
that parties, like men.
Fail TO rise. are haf,ed to fight better,