The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-23
What of The Future 2

oNeT lue VI hiu6t othbV Va pioph
ct the world casts inQuiring glances
for tokens from the future. Death
casts its gloom, but from beyond the
darkness Of the hour comes the de-
n,and for action for the living. No
individual life is sufficient to maintain
the march of progress, and develop
ment can but halt at the grave OF its
leader.
No man has yet ruled, in any sphere
of life's activity, whose ending OF days
jeopardized the general veal or man
kind, or thwarted that destiny, which
shapes the plans for nations from a
higher power. With bowed heads we
contemplate the future beside the bier
where strength Of purpose has ceased
10 rule, and where the marshaling
power of a great personality has been
lost In the mist and darkness of the
unknown beyond The faithless frallty
of human doubt brings forbodings, but
Judgment, and the story of the past,
bring reinsurance for the morrow.
Yesterday, the state and nation
turned with respect and sorrow, to the
city where the last tributes were paid
to a fallen leader, and unmixed or
tainted with partisan feeling were the
evidences of the recognition Of coun-
try's loss. While today. without vio-
lence to the memory of him who is
gone, we turn to the future and plan
again for the living
The public veal is safe always, for
out of darkest night the dawn must
come But 1t is with such events as
this that come the changes in the trend
of human affairs. The taking of a
leader may bring disaster to political
followers, and lessen the strength Of
party power, but safe in the loyalty of
the people rests the working out of the
greatest good.
Doubtless the death of Senator Ham
ma will greatly change the political as
pect of the state OF Ohio. That he
ruled in his party, is beyond possibil-
ity Of questioning. That his leader
ship was of that class which permitted
no close second is apparent to all. And
that the organization of which he was
the heart and soul will find trouble in
filing his place, is too evident for dis
cussion. But the filing of his place Is
so closely allied with the possibilities Of
the party in the state in the future, that
II is little wonder that it's conserva-
tive, thoughtful members view with
CONSERVATION the coming scramble of
the incompetents.
And yet these incompetents were the
product, and In his hands, the very
power of the dead senator whose place
they can never fill with safety to their
organization. They are the product of
the servility of the past, freed from
the lash of the master, and untitled
for independent action.
Among those who constituted the po-
litical retinue Of the dead senator, not
one is competent, and yet they hold
sufficient power in the ranks of their
party to prevent his place being ta-
ken by such manhood and integrity
as would give promise of safety to the
future Of the party In the state.
A great leader is gone, and with his
loss comes the confusion and chaos
In the ranks which were made de-
pendent followers. and 1t will be
strange, indeed, If the characterless
scramble for place does not bring
n change in the political conditions
in Ohio, such as has not occurred for
years.