New-York tribune., 1906-11-08
A PERSONAL VERDICT.

Minorities have happy way in this democ-
racy of acquiescng in the verdict of MAORI
ties, and that habit is the doom of Mr.. Hearst
This election was not the triumph of one
| party over another. 1t was not the victory
of one policy over another, for Mr.. Hearst
had no policy except unmeasured denunciation.
which suggested destruction but committed
him TO nothing definite, while Mr.. Hughes
pledged himself to reform the very abuses
against which his adversary clamOred. AS we
said, there was one paramount issue, and that
was Hearst. The verdict yerfeS that asser
ton. The people voted that Hearst was dan
| gerous man, unfit for office. The plurality of
Mr. Hughes is not the measure OF Mr.. Hearst's
condemnation. In his own city, where he is
| best known and where his papers point with
pride to his carrying all five boroughs, the Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor ran over 10000
behind the Democratic state ticket That meas
ures his repudiation by those of his fellow citi-
zens who are best qualified to appreciate the
sinister character Of his public activities. Where
his colleagues on the Democratic state ticket
receive an unprecedented plurality Hearst re-
ceiyes a meagre one. On the basis of the fig
ures in New York City any ordinary Democrat
could have disputed the election with the Re
publcans on even terms. The proverbial vel
low dog" stood a chance, but not Hearst. He
has demonstrated that he is the weakest Dem
Ocral III Jne state. W Oulu rat McCaTren or
Charlie" Murphy have run more than 10000
behind the ticket IN New York City?
Now, this adverse verdict was against Hearst
personally, not against his ideas for he had
not courage enough in the campaign TO advance
any; not against his party, for the piebald
amalgamation back of him has not cohesion
enough to be called q party. He must bear
upon his own shoulders the burden of the pu-
ralty Of $4,000 against him in the state and the
plurality of more than 10000 of his own associ-
ates over him In his own home city If he were
beaten for any other reason than a personal
one he might live 1t down. Parties change
and the public attitude toward policies changes,
but how can q man alter the deliberately eX-
pressed opinion of the electorate regarding so
unalterable a thing as his nature and charac-
ter? Hearst must remain Hearst till the end
Of time and it will never be forgotten that
his own state and city rejected him as an alb
solutely unsafe man TO trust in public office.
Nay, more, we believe that, after the custom
of democracies. the citizens will in a short
time accept almost universally the judgment
OF the ma ajority.
Distrust of Hearst's character had, during
the campaign, percolated far down, even
among the most ignorant OF his followers. a
foreman of a gang of street cleaners, a sup
| porter Of Hearst who could not read or write
was asked just before election what he thought
Of the prospects. He replied: Il think Hearst
will win" and then added: "If he does not
! il is because he has beaten himself" This
man. even in the isolation of iliteracy, so
adapted TO Hearsts purposes, had not failed
| to learn that Hearst had discredited himself by
his political and financial sharp practices. Ar
dent supporters of Hearst have been heard
| already since the election turning upon him
and denouncing him for his double dealing.
| Those who like riot feel that Hearst is not,
| after ALL a sincere enough "rioter,' and the
rest of the electorate fear the truth Of his own
suggestion that he has scruple about "riot-
| ing If there is anything in 1t" for Hearst.
| He is dlstrusted and feared. He cannot live
down the verdict against himself personally
the man who was not only beaten but re-
| buked by the poor show he makes in COM
parison with his commonplace associates Oh the
| ticket. What party would be so insane to
| renominate him for the Governorship offer
him as a candidate for the Presidency? If he
| had been beaten, as Bryan was because Of
some such unpopular issue free silver, he
might appeal to the public again on some new,
vital and popular issue But he has been
beaten for reasons as immutabe as his person
ality. He has been tried convicted and ad-
| judged insupportabe.