Show THE LESSON OF THE ELECTION it Is hard bard to see eee how bow tidal waves or landslides Jand alidee or cyclones cyclone or whatever other figur figurative fiR unive alive name may be given to V K L immense and unexpected political majorities can over ever become very popular with even the party that momentarily profits profile from them much less leas with the party whose disaster they compass A year ago not only our own nation but the civilized world ditnes ed one of the most stupendous political victories that ever attended a party the republicans who during mure more than thirty years had been in control of at least one branch of the government being routed all along the line boree foot and dragoons today the victors victon of a twelvemonth since are rubbing the sore places in tbell own anatomy and feebly asking what jt it to is that has smitten them the democrats lose at every point not only in states that bad come to be considered ered doubtful but in new york where they were thought to be firmly in trenched and even in rock ribbed new while their arch opponent william mckinley sweeps into office with tho the greatest majority ever given a governor in ohio since the war it if the ibe result last fall was an astounding surprise surp rlee the returns this fall making all allowance tor for its ite being ao an off year 2 are scarcely less lees so yet a calm review of the present situation shows shown nothing that need cause exdee axce s sive exultation to the winners or especial heart heaviness to the defeated after all the best or worst that can be agta is in that this is merely the ebb of last years flood local causes affecter affect eo the result in some places and general hard times the punishment for which to is always visited by the elect electorate upon the party darty in power contributed their quota to the upheaval everywhere As to the democrats having been tr tried ed in power and found wanting such talk its it to say the least premature it cannot be denied that they have been found wanting in carrying out the western idea as a to silver but bui the republicans have made no record in that matter that they can boast of either on other national questions notably ot ably tariff reform the victors of last year have as yet done nothing they the have bad no opportunity to say that the uncertainty as to what they might do has caused their present defeat may not be without truth ruth as a statement but it is without force as an argument th people who put them in power last year must surely have expected so radical a change could not dot fall fail to have bays that effect but it to Is hardly fair to the intelligence of the voters to say that they have so repented of their verdict and are all converted back agal agai before the system for which they rolled up great majorities a twelve month monib since has ham had a trial ane accordingly thinks that disappointing as is the result this year to the one party it is a not any more so if indeed as much as was the result last year to the other party it may be tuat the voters are doing more thinking or it may be that panic stricken they are dot doing ng less certainly the pendulum which swung to the extreme in one direction has now swung nearly as an far toward the ex in the other for a few things developed by the last election all can be truly thankful boss bon rule in one state and corrupt rule in another shave had bad a tremendous setback personal popularity to is still a factor in a bandt dates success suco ees and principle to Is getting to be rather more esteemed than party advantage all these are good signs they are suggestive of better politics loa and the more intelligent exercise of the suffrage rage they are a guaranty that under any party the country will not go hopelessly tu to the bow wowe and an assurance ranee that though they may be stampeded sometimes the people still have sense and strength enough to bring up sharply those who bemuse because once triumphantly put in permit themselves theme elvee to be flushed with ideas ideal of their own importance and impregnability |