Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-07
The Republican Triumph.

Herbert Hoover'S election as Presi-
dent of the United States is by ma
jority so large, in point of both popular
and electoral votes, as to constitute one
of the most striking phenomena in
American politics. The result was not
unexpected, but the magnitude of the
victory surpasses even the most enthu-
siastic claims of partisans. So sweeping
is the Republican triumph, so complete
the Democratic defeat that the mind
leaps to the thought of the future of
those two parties, rather than to the
character of the next administration Of
the national affairs.
Viewed politically, the election is
revolutionary. The hitherto solid"
South has been broken, three, and per-
haps four, of the States of that region
that have heretofore stood unfailingly
in support of the Democratic party en-
tering the Republican electoral column,
while in others the Democratic MAORI
ties have been greatly reduced. The i'm
plications of this departure are mani
fest This breach in long-maintained
solidarity of partisansh:p may signify
reorganization, with more wholesome
political condition resulting in the area
of previous one-party dominion.
No single State in the farm belt"
supported the Democratic candidate, an
indication that the tendency toward in
dependent progresSivism in that region
has been checked. There is no basis for
the organization of third party now
remaining in the discomfort Of the ele-
mentS once strongly Republican, but Of
recent years somewhat wavering in par
tisan allegiance on the score of eco
nomic issues.
In the North and East there are no
changes of note, save in Massachusetts,
and Rhode Island, where Democratic
margins have apparently been gained,
small, but perhaps sufficient to break
the Republican solidarity" of that area.
These two instances are due to peculiar
causes, not necessarily identified with
the issues of the campaign.
The Democratic party viii, of course.
survive this crushing defeat. 1t viii re-
main, for the present at least, the cor
receive factor in American politics. It
has during the past sixty-eight years held
the national administration only during
sixteen years, and it has now been again
defeated, to lengthen the period of Re-
publican administration to fifty-six
years. It cannot, will not, succumb to
this repeated misfortune. 1t has part
to play in the political equation of the
country Through reorganization it may
revise its course. 1t must, however diff
ficult the task, carry on to the end.
Upon the Republican party, thus in
dorsed by a vote never before equaled,
rests a responsibility the heavier be-
cause of this very triumph. To its can
didate for the presidency it owes the
major part of its success. It has now
before it the duty Of fulfilling the prom
Uses made in his name and Of carrying
out in action the policies that have been
thus Endorsed by a phenomenal vote.
Never before in the history Of man
kind have forty million people on sim
gle day expressed themselves regarding
the personnel of their immediate gov
eminent. This great referendum, un-
equaled in point of numbers participate
ing, and in point as well of the de-
cisiveness of the result, is renewed
demonstration of the capacity of the
American people for self-government.
1t is a victory for the American ideal.