The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-11-05
THE VICTORY AND
IT'S RESPONSIBILITIES
New York Times)

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later for much sober thought. There
i il no precedent for the figures which
4 the returns brought in last night. |
1 Cities and towns gave Mr.. Harding |
Imajorities that in an ordinary election
i would be ample for great states.
i When democratic stronghoIds like |
4 Boston and New York city give re-
publican majorities such as the demo-
Icrats themselves have rarely achieved,
lit is plain that extraordinary forces
had been loosed to produce these as
ltonishing results. 1t was of predesti-
lnation that the republicans should
Iwin-they knew that long ago. 1T is
.leighty years since the country has
Il had two democratic administrations
lin succession. The American elector-
ate is proverbially fond of change"
3 Without the league Of nations issue
to stir their prophets to warnings of
Icertain war under article x. the re-
lpublicans would have carried this cleo
Itlon by heavy majority. The taxes,
the unrest, the multitudinous harass-
Iments that were the progeny of the
iwar would have reused very general
ldesire TO put the democratic party
tout of power.
/ Of that feeling the republicans
made the utmost use. They stirred up
Inew and special hatreds OF the admin
| listration With all the resources of
lIexaggeration they laid upon it the
I faults OF which ii had been guilty and.
| invented new ones with which lit could
mot honestly be charged Discarding
lall scruple, putting aside every feel
ling of respect and consideration for
a great leader stricken in the service
1 lof his country and Of humanity, they
fed the flames OF personal resentment
3Iagainst Mr. Wilson. Moreover, their
3lcampaign was long ago planned and
3lCrganized i'm the most systematic
business fashion. They had a definite
purpose I'm view; for that they shaped
$Ieverv detail of their tactics. not ex-
Y Icepting the important detail OF max
ling choice OF their candidate. selec-
4 tion made in cool defiance of the voice
: lof the people as expressed i'm the pri-
4 lmaries. With victory certain, why
i should not the little group in control
I Isuit itself in that particular?
4 The popular desire for change and
i the highly effective organization OF
i the campaign would have given the
4 Irepublicans something greater than
4 tine old-time najorities. But now,
4 llstrange and enormous reinforcements
i came TO them without virtue or effort
Il ION their part, and these account for
4 the staggering overplus of the Hard
! ing figures. The proof Of it is seen
Il lin the figures of the republican vote
Il and of the republican majorities in
u such democratic strongholds as New
Il York city and Boston. The Irish vote,
Il the German vote, taking no thought
u about the league of nations, about any
Il American interest or concern, prompt
4 led solely by solicitude for interests
= rot American, went solidly over to
= the republican candidate. And this
81 lhappened all over the country The
y magnitude Of the majority for Mr..
8 Harding il sufficiently explained by
& this demonstration of interests i'm alien
q causes. It was foreseen, it was well
81 understood, it was known that il
Il would bring millions of votes to the
Ii Republicans.
81 The league OF nations issue, the
d only one upon which the democrats
81 lcould have made any respectable
n showing, was altogether submerged
~ by this tidal wave. On that issue II
~ lis plain that the republican party, the
8 lreal republicans, lost I'M strength
q votes and character. Great numbers
* of republican men and women, intel.
u llgent enough to examine the issue
H and conscientious enough TO put con
4 viction above party. publicly and pri
vately came to the support Of Gov
: Iernor Cox. It was futile, but it was
. significant.
Now Senator Harding must turr
his thoughts to the future, and it il !
o future with grave responsibilities and
9 serious e.mbarrassments It will no
. be small matter either to grant Of
= Ito refuse the demands certain to b,
made upon him by the millions VIII,
" gave him their vote for reasons aliel
. to republican or American principles
= They win point to the enormous ma
o Ijorities they contributed and demanl
= their recompense. Strictly within hi
. own party. moreover, there will b
> strife and conflict. Eminent repub
2 llicans, ike Mr.. Root, Mr.. Taft, Mn
o hughes and President Lowell. will
. li1vited TITO his counsels; it il to
. hoped that they viii be his chief an
= FROST trusted counselors. Their cam
elpaign utterances and their know
strong convictions must incline ther
: to urge upon him some form of comm
. together with the nations now unite
70 preserve the peace Of the worle
vi That must be, viii be the great wor
slof his administration, its chic
sItriumph, for without success in tbs
elendeavor the record of his four year
win be one of failure In efforts |
that end he and his advisers win hay
the support Of all that is sound an
lbest in both parties. The education.
swork of the campaign has not bee
siWasted, the country understands I'll