The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-07-07

Mr.. McKinley's nomination for the Gov
ernorship Of Ohio is giving the free trade
papers an opportunity ID pour out their
phials of wrath upon the Mckinley bill and
its author. Says the New York Times Of
Sunday.
It might have been thought that when this
amazing measure had done its fatal work and
buried the Republican majority In the House the
party would have dropped Its author and turned
70 some new Leader to guide it back to the power
from Wnlcn u nad been SO mercilessly swept. +. :.
=. IL Is lnconceivable that the men in the high
places of the party, Mr.. Harrison, MIR. Blaine, Mr.
Reed, MIR. Sherman, and so on, do not understand
the absurdity OF this curious enthusiasm for Nc
Kinley, this persistent hailing as a saviour the
man who more than anyone else ruined the party.
The leaders of the Republican party and
the rank and file as well understood what
the free traders would have to admit were
they candid, that the November elections
were no test of the real sentiments of the
American people concerning either Mr..
Mckinley or the tariff bill. When the No
vember elections came on the Mckinley bill
had been allowed no trial. Its most impor-
tant provisions were not In force. There
was temporary unsettling of markets and
prices, which INSCRIPTIONS politicians were
only too ready to seize upon as evidence that
the whole measure was destructive In its
tendencies. The lapse of time has shown
that the pre1udices of Last November were
founded upon no just cause. 1t is doubtful
II the average citizen can name a single ar
ticle or single respect in which
the Mckinley bill has caused any
permanent increases of price, while he
will have at his tongues end at
least one conspicuous instance where the
bill has effected large saving to him. What
rational man will blame lMr. Mckinley, or
the Mckinley bill, because they were con-
demned under popular misunderstanding !?
1t may be urged that.Mr. Mckinley should
not have put a bill of such Importance
through Congress on the eve of an election.
There is force in this criticism, but not as
directed against Mr.. Mckinley. 1t was not
his fault that the bill did not become law
in the early summer, in plenty of time to
enable its provisions to be understood. The
bill was passed in the House in ample time !.
but was allowed to lie by in the Senate.
The Democrats understand this. and their
loud calls for the Republicans to drop one
Of their ablest leaders are not prompted by
interest in the success Of the Republican
party. 1t has always been a fayorite
trick of the Democrats to disorgan-
ize their opponents as much as post
BILE by abusing and maligning their
leaders. Recognizing that the great body of
Independent voters is in the Republican
party, it has always been the Democratic
game to prejudice those voters against promi-
nent Republican leaders. As long ago as
fhnxy cd Aha If
Hannibal Bamlin had negro blood in his
veins because of his swarthy complexion.
Just now they are endeavoring to discredit
Mckinley by representing him as repu-
dated leader, although he won out of the
disasters of November what was really
great victory, and is probably on the road
70 another victory In Ohio this fall. Repub-
Means must be pardOned if they do not de-
sers tneir leaders at the advice of such ques-
UiohaOie advisers as the New York Times.