The National tribune., 1910-11-17
RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.

| We confess to lack of deep grief
over the wholesale landslide in the cleo
tions. We are not even sorry that the
turning down was as general as il was,
because 1t is better in every way that
the defeat should be so overwhelming.
This very completeness makes it the
better None of the tin-horn politicians
on either side can claim the credit for
the result. II dumbfounded the Demo-
crats. threw the insurgents into confu-
sion and bewildered the regulars. Each
Is as much at loss to account for it as
the other. The big and little fellows,
with their pet issues, had about as much
/ to do with the result as windmill has
with a cyclone. AS near as can be
stated In q few words, the result was
| due to the dissensions among the Re-
publican politicians, their industrious
| Safeguarding of one another, their eff
forts to foment dissatisfaction among
the people and the absence of any real
strong dominating issue. Not being ca
pable of outlining anything better, the
cheaper politicians harped incessantly
upon the tariff and the high price Of
| living, and fomented everywhere the
discomfort which naturally arises when
a party has been long time in power.
Everything, from the ravages of the
chnch bug in Kansas to the high price
of eggs, was laid at the door of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff and the Republi-
can Party. Every leader n it was per-
sonally and particularly assailed.
There came the inevitable result that
a large percentage of the people who
are always ready for a change voted
with the Democrats, and apparently
some millions OF Republicans stayed at
home and did not vote at all. While
We regret the loss of great many good
men from Congress, there are many
others left at home which will be a
benefit to the party. The crushing blow
will sober the politicians, and teach
them what is the inevitable result of
their selfish chickering's and ruinous war
upon one another. II anything, the
Democrats are in worse plight than the
Republicans, since they have now got
dangerously large majority in the House
of Representatives, with a possibility OF
controlling the Senate. This brings re-
sponsibilities upon them which look
calamitous. While their main stock in
trade during the campaign was a clamor
for a downward revision OF the tariff,
there is already strong feeling among
the wiser ones that the tariff is a live
wire which they had better leave alone.
The experience of the Cleveland Admin
istration Is too recent for them to desire
a repetition. Next to the tariff Is that
indefnable thing known as Cannon
ism," and this at once spells trouble.
While Champ Clark is recognized as
their leader when they were In hope
less minority, he Is certain to have
strong competition when the Speaker
ship and the organization of the COM
mittees Is in sight. The organization of
the House and its control In the way of
doing the business for which it was
elected can only be secured by the con-
tinuance of the present rules of the
House and the power of the Speaker.
To talk of anything else Is sheer non
sense. II the Democrats are wise, we
after their vicious attack upon Car"
Reed and his rules. The Democrats will
simply continue the present rules of the
House and cIothe the Speaker with all
the power that he now has. With
majority of 50 or 80 Mr.. Clarke or who
ever the Democratic Speaker may be
will have need Of all the power that can
be given him. We shall have another
illustration OF President Cleveland's task
of riding at once two horses going in
different directions.
The prospects for 1912 are far more
cheering for the Republicans than for
the Democrats. for the Republicans will
now get together, while the Democrats
will only make their dissensions more
evident
THE SOUL GROWTH OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN