Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-24

they should be forgotten. The curren-
cy question was one on which, in his
campaign for nomination to the presi-
dency, he did not aspire to be an au-
thority. He expected to be elected on
different issue. 1t was, in fact, a new
theme for him, so far as 1t formed the
burden of his speeches In the months of
the late summer and the present autumn.
He started out in this discussion on
sound basis, and with his face in the right
direction, and the general judgment of
the country is that he grew, as time went
on, in the mastery of the subject. We
see no reason to doubt that We have safe
president on this point.
We are much disposed to believe also
that we may have broader president, on
points of public policy generally, than
some of those who estimate Mckinley
only by his action in congress have been
led to hope or fear. Every man of nat.
urally cool temperament and fair mind
broadens rs he finds himself about to
enter the presidency. Mckinley, IN the
national house of representatives, was
largely devoted to specially. Nobody
questions that he defended his side of this
ably, ana that he was stronger man in
this duty as his service in congress ad-
vanced. In other words, he was equal to
his opportunities. May we not reason
ably infer from this that he will be found
equal to higher opportunities? Mckinley
will, doubtless, often be reminded, after
he takes the presidency, that he was nomi-
mated as the champion of high protection.
This is not quite true, however. He was
proposed originally as the champion of
high protection, and a campaign was
made in his favor which would have pro.
cured his nomination on that basis had
no other issue arisen. But another issue
and a more important one came to the
front before the nomination for president
was made, and protection had to give way
to it. This is history now. Mckinley
was chosen president on the currency is
sue. If there be any specially to COM
mand precedence in his administration it
is that one.
president, if he ls to be found worthy
of his office, must broaden into it. We
may have aspirants for the presidency of
whom there was apparently less neces-
sity for this man in the case OF most men.
But we have seldom elected Websters to
that Office. Abraham Lincoln, who was
nearer to being great president than
any man this generation has seen, did not
enter his Office fully panoplied for its
duties. He was distrusted by the people
at the outset-he distrusted himself. He
became great president because he alb
negated self and subordinated previous
prspossessions in view of the RESPONSE
biities that were upon him. We doubt
man with so little pride of personal
opinion as had Abraham Lincoln in the
presidency, and here was to large de-
gree the key to his success in that Office.
"New occasions teach new duties" and
there can not possibly be more impor-
tant new occasion than the assumption of
the American presidency.
We have confidence in Gov. Mckinley,
first, because he impresses us as man, il
not of remarkable natural brilliancy,
yet one Of native tendencies to conscien
tious action, and secondly for the reason
that his experience in public life has
taught him to have high appreciation
of the duties and responsibilities of his
coming position. He has seen success in
the presidency attained by the broaden
ing of its incumbent into his great Office;
he has seen success there wrecked by mar
rowness and stubbornness, and by fail
ure to comprehend the majesty of the
field into which such incumbent had en-
tered. The character of the man and the
opportunities of his political career lead
to reasonable hope that those lessons
will not be lost upon him.-Boston Her
aid