The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-11-07
AFTER THE BATTLE
ND Twas a famous victory. I

pCOplN VI ShitNh 1hatNS
= n have passed through another
vigorous political battle and the vic
tory rests with those who demand sane
and safe procedure in governmental
affairs. We are not now concerned
with remarkng on the significance OF
the result so much as on the signifi-
canoe OF certain notable phases oil the
conflict itself.
l. There has been happy freedom
from unpleasant personalities. We
are not amongst those who deprecate
all Singing" in political contests
as highly Objectionable. We contend
that the people are entitled to the full
est light on a candidates character,
and, il that character is vicious or un-
worthy. it is the publicist's duty to ex-
pose that fact and the peoples right
to know it, In the late campaign, vety
happily we note, both the leading can
didates have been men OF singularly
unblemishcd character. While the
overshadowing issue has undoubtedly
been Organism il has not been Mr..
Bryans personal life, ssit his political
and economic hercsies which have
been so mercilessly castigated by his
opponents and so overwhelmingly re-
pudiatcd by his iellow-citizens
2. The conspicuous failure OF un-
usual efforts to diferentiate the
American people into voting classes.
No such thing as a politically united
labor vote appears in the election re
turns: il the West was bent on show
ing its acrimonious feelings toward
Al. Eus, ii, a,Its - a.. .,stHa-.-
ed in the results But East and West
alike, laborcr and capitalist, men OF all
occupations and localiiies--in other
words the people the American peo-
pie. have spoken by majority so
magnificent and so significant as to
convince the most blcar-cyed observer
that we fight our political battles as
men and not as class" units. In the
light OF this lesson we hope il will be
many long day before another effort
is made to intcrject foreign distinc-
ton and TIN American sentiments into
our American politics,
g. The surprising vigor OF the can
yaSs conducted on the stump by the
opposing candidates And therein our
democracy doth appear Such can
NaSNtN dlN IlEUl anu "lNf anu bNiIl'
cratic. and conSonant with the spirit OF
Our political institutions. No divinity
doth hedge a President or Presidcn-
iial candidate. This business OF front
porch campaigns, with visiting dele
cations. squints at ariStocracy. We
want our Statesmen amongst us. We
want the man in the street to meet
him; we want the people. all the PEG
pie, to see and hear him. Every rep
fesentativc al the people will be a
better representative for such contact
with those he represents: and the
people themselves will feel all the
greater interest and deeper confidence
in teh man who has discussed with
them. face 10 face, the issues for which
nc stands On this side the water, we
are not afraid OF losing our dignity by
mingling with the masses, And both
Mr.. Taft and Mr. Bryan have shown
themselves great and strong enough
80 go through most astounding
stumping tour without any loss OF the
peoples cspcct-cxccpt here and
there a carping critic who cannot I'm.
derstand how democratic our Amcri
can spirit is and ought to be
4. The sturdy good judgment oi the
American people in critical situations
The late political battle was fought
while the people were hardly recover
ed from the hystcria incident 10 ,NaS
perating revelations OF political and
financial misconduct and when the
time was most propitiorS for appealing
10 revolutionary and destructive IN
stincts 1t waS fought whsle 4 large
section 81 the country was III the
throcs 81 m industrial depression and
men might be expected 10 welcome
the most radical political noStrums
These were the elements which for :
time cast much reasonable doubt upor
the action al the electorate. But the
American people are not apt to steer
by the foam. In the hour oi decisive
action their mental processes became
clear and steady. They were not
ready To- throw the Jaby out with the
bath They were not ready to burr
the house down TO get rid oi the rats
when the smoke 81 battle is entirel,
cleared away and the strife OF tongue
Is utterly squclched. let il be remcm
bercd that the result was achieved b!
the man OF good judgment, who doe
a lot Of hard thinking without making
much noise about IT,