The symbols must be earmarked. For in themselves
they mean nothing, and the choice of possible symbols is always so
great that we should, like the donkey who stood equidistant between
two bales of hay, perish from sheer indecision among the symbols that
compete for our attention.
Here, for example, are the reasons for their vote as stated by certain
private citizens to a newspaper just before the election of 1920.
For Harding:
"The patriotic men and women of to-day, who cast their ballots for
Harding and Coolidge will be held by posterity to have signed our
Second Declaration of Independence."
Mr. Wilmot--, inventor.
"He will see to it that the United States does not enter into
'entangling alliances,' Washington as a city will benefit by changing
the control of the government from the Democrats to the Republicans."
Mr. Clarence--, salesman.
For Cox:
"The people of the United States realize that it is our duty pledged
on the fields of France, to join the League of Nations. We must
shoulder our share of the burden of enforcing peace throughout the
world."
Miss Marie--, stenographer.
"We should lose our own respect and the respect of other nations were
we to refuse to enter the League of Nations in obtaining international
peace."
Mr. Spencer--, statistician.
The two sets of phrases are equally noble, equally true, and almost
reversible.
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