It has a high value wholly apart from its immediate political results.

It means that the American people are beginning a new phase of their political experience,--a phase in which there will be room for a much freer play of individual ability and character.

Inevitably the sudden realization by certain exceptional politicians that they have a right to be individuals, and that they can take a strong line of their own in politics without being disqualified for practical political association with their fellow-countrymen--such a new light could hardly break without tempting the performers to over-play the part.

The fact that they have over-played their parts, and have wasted time and energy over meaningless and unnecessary disagreements is not in itself a matter of much importance.

The great majority of them are disinterested and patriotic men, who will not allow in the long run either personal ambition or political crotchets to prevent them from cooeperating for the good of the cause.
Unfortunately, however, neither public spirit nor patriotism will be sufficient to bring them effectively together--any more than genuine excellence of intention and real public spirit enabled patriotic Americans to cooeperate upon a remedial policy during the years immediately preceding the Civil War.