Courier Democrat., 1904-12-15

"! AkAuCuU0 Su1u6 VI ulOIlCy COuOlUul-
ed by corporate interests for the undis-
suised purpose Of corrupting the elector-
ate in advance in 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 respectability
from disrepute, manipulation unreach-
able by law from the petty practice
that subjects one to the humiliation 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 unmanly murmur either as to the
result or the means whereby it was
largely Influenced.
We have said the defeated minority
will accept the verdict. They. will by
no means accept the correctness Of that
verdict. Majorfties are right only in
the sense that in a republican govern
ment 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 fixed and final
impression to opinion, which shifts
and changes like the tides of the sea.
making the majority 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 stubbornly to the view that
mistake has been made in the popular
verdict; that, confronted with the
choice between two caskets, one con-
tanning principles preservative of the
true genius of republican institutions
and the other the gaud of plutocratic
corruption and wild imperial dreams,
the American people have been misled
from the true by the glitter and trump
cry of the externals of the unworthy.
And they will continue to insist that no
majority, however large, can hallow
official extravaganza, disregard of the
constitution, the preponderant influ-
ence Of immense aggregations Of capt.
tai in national elections. the enforced
tribute from the many to the few
through the operation of tariff for
mulated in the latter's interest exclu-
sively. :"
The pendulum has swung far at this
election, 1t is to be hoped to the end of
its possible arc. The return must be
made unless the country would be led
into heresies more and more subver-
sive Of republican government. To go
further would be to fling away the her
itage we have for the pottage Of petty
ventures along the imperial track, to
become the blind and willing tools of
wealth and corruption in place Of citi-
zens with the will to 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 a valuable service to the
country. They will be able to keep
check on too confident majority and
prevent it from wholly losing regard
for popular rights in its subservience
to 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 a trucking and unworthy
government will be more clearly de-
oned than ever. And they will gather
strength even from defeat, recognising
that parties, like men,
Fail to rise. are bafned to night better.
Sleep to wake!