Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-28
SIGNIFICANCE OF HEARST.
Whole Body Of False Doctrine Sub
mifted


How little of partisan victory is
the defeat of Hearst in New York is
illustrated in the returns, which indi-
cate the election of part OF the Demo
cratic state ticket, though Hughes is
elected governor. The spirit of unrest
which Hearst represented was most
formidable, of course, in the larger
cities. but especially in Greater New
York. The Republicans were expected
to hold the state outside the metrop-
oils, but Hearst was counting upon
the city vote. The average pluralities
for the Democratic ticket in Greater
New York are 100000. Hearsts plu-
rality Is only $4,000. Evidently he was
defeated by Democratic votes.
While it is a reasonable assump-
ton that conservative Democratic
candidate for governor would have
carried New York. at least against
any ordinary cndidate of the Repub-
licans. 1t is very evident that the
state, irrespective of party. has profit
ed enormously Dy Hearst's threaten
ing candidacy. 1t compelled the nomi-
nation of Mr.. Hughes who represent,
ed the spirit of lawful and rational re.
form, as opposed to the destructive
spirit OF revolution, and thus enabled
serious citizens of al parties to unite
for Hearst's defeat. But the election
of Hughes is itself a recognition OF
the abuses which both men. in their
opposite ways. have denounced. and it
gives assurance of an intelligent eli.
fort for their correction. Mr.. Hughes
will be essentially an Independent and
Y1fNV icov o:o1
mandate to guard the state against the
encroachments of corporate influence,
and the Legislature, however COM
posed, will not venture TO relapse in.
to its old indifference to awakened,
public opinion.
In other ways also the Hearst
scare will prove of benefit. 1t has
brought to focus the wild impulses
Of envy, hatred and malice. of vindic
tiveness and anarchy; it has submit.
ted the whole body of false doctrine
10 the cOnsiderate judgement of the
people. who have repudiate~l the teach
ing and rejected the teacher. Hearst
has had his day, and with his defeat
Hearstism also will decline and pass
away. 1t was not wholly an artificial
movement. On the contr; .ry Hearst
has but taken advantage of the pop
ular protest against proved wrongs
and abuses to serve his own ends. But
this protest has had it's effect in 9th.
er and better ways. The whole polit
ical atmosphere has been changed by
1t, and reform will come about by con.
siderate action that will satisfy the
public conscience and remove the
causes of unrest.
Practically repudiated by the party
they sought to debase and misuse. the
Hearsts and Morans and their kind
sease to be a menance. Their appeals
to ignorance and passion will grad
ually lose effect, and the country, re
lieved of agitation, will settle down
to the sober consideration of real pc
litical problems and will solve them in
the honest American way-as SO many
of them are already in the course OF
solution. We have been passing
through very remarkable epoch in
our political history, but everything
has worked out better than the most
optimistic could have hoped two years
ago. There are no evils SO great thai
they cannot be cured through the
healthy operation of our Democratic
institutions, and while the American
people retain the freedom of politica
action they have everywhere shown
this year they can face the issues o
the future in confidence and peace.