The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-16


| presidents does not reveal so great fal
in public estimation.
Two Republicans more prominently
than all the others have been mentioned
in connection with the Republican
candidacy for the presidency, Major
William Mckinley. jr., of Ohio, and
Thomas B. Reed Of Maine.
While candidate announced so early
in the day as this bids fair, according
10 precedent, to be killed off before the
time of the convention, yet the condi-
lions are such today that make itpracti-
cally essential that the sentiment OF the
parity be centralized around some one,
! aud the endeavors Of the united party
be bent towards paving the way Of his
election.
The silence IN regard to Harrison as a
factor is easily explainable His defeat
in 1892 was due 10 three causes. First,
to the high protective bugaboo; second,
to his contemplate treatment Of Mr..
Blaine, and third to the way in which
The convention was handled by Office
holders.
At least two Of these objections are
pertinent today and would arise 70 con-
front him in any convention, aud it is
doubtful if an attempt will ever be made
again to foist him upon the party he
led to defeat.
As the recent victories have been, and
may rightly be assigned TO the desire on
the part Of the American people to
perpetuate the American system Of
protection, the mind turns logically to
Major Mckinley as the most noticeable
,xponent of high tariff system. The
Mckinley tariff bill. so-called, was per
haps more largely due 10 Major Nc
Knley than 10 any other one man, and
t.day ne stands. acknowledging the
paternity of the bill. Yet this very fact
may be and undoubtedly will be urged
as "a very strong reason why he may not
lead the Republican hosts.
The Republican party believes today
as strongly in the protective system as
il ever has. It knows that hy no other
means can the American workman be
projected against the competition of the
cheaper labor of the other quarters of
the globe. BY protection alone can our
home markets be preserved to the
American people, but there are hun.
dreds of thousands of Republicans whose
toy'ritty- toparty priuciptes rs as unques-
toned as that of Major Mckinley who
DO not believe in the ultra-high protec-
ton of the Mckinley bill, and who be-
lieve it absolutely essential to Republi-
can success that some one other than the
apostle of ultra-high protection be NOM
'ihated as the standard bearer
Then again. Mckinley comes from
Ohio. and the central United States has
recently had its representation in the
presidential chair. Objections to Nc
Kinley will also come from the great
section west of the Mississippi, aud OBJ
jections so strong that they will be,
unless a great change comes over public
sentiment, practically unopposable.
BY the process of elimination Thomas
B. Reed alone is left at the present time.
AS good protectionist as Mckinley, he
is not Of the same hide. bound, ultra
high protectionist stamp. He is broad
of mind. close student of political
affairs and leader over whom the great
masses of the people would more readily
enthuse. No man in the United
States today stands closer TO the
people than bluff. hearty Tom Reed
of Maine. For eighteen years he has
represented the First congressional dis
trict of Maine. He has never known a
defeat, and in the many bitter fights in
his own district, caused by the distrlbu-
tion of patronage, he has always been
vindicated by handsome majority at
the polls.
lie is man of character, firm and as
when convinced of the JUS
tice of his cause as the granite walls
that line the sea coast OF his native
state.
There it not section of the country
East or West, North or South,
that would not stand with him shoulder
to shoulder on 10 success. His course
in the Fifty-second congress, when he |
as one of the cardinal principles !
of a republican form of government
that the majority should rule, won for |
him the respect and admiration Of the |
whole people. He represents New
the solid bulwark of Repub- !
licanism. The Republican party born |
in the state of Maine, N the little towh
Of Strong, has never yet honored the
state that gave it birth by the election
of a citizen of that state TO the highest
Office in the gift of the people.
He is a popular man, magnetic man,
II fba t1ep az fbia trito torn, ,,,o,. In 80.