Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-25
The Republican Presidential Situation.

The Republican Presidential Situation.
While we believe-and we are of the
opnion that this belief is becoming
widespread-that the Mckinley CAM
paigr is buoyed up by good deal OF
that insubstantial commodity known
as bluff" and while we believe that he
is not to be the standard bearer of the
Republican party this fall. we hope
that he will be cleared of any suspicion
that few great manufacturers are
spending many thousands of dollars to
have him nominated.
1t is gratifying to note not only that
those who make these charges do not
hold MIR. Mckinley accountable for
any corruptipg use of the money, but
that such corruption has not been
proven. and is unequivocally denied.
Nevertheless he WILL in quite degree,
be held responsible for the acts of his
managers and every good Republican
must hope that all suspicious, even,
will be cleared away. In the first
place sight can not be lost of the fact
that Mr. Mckinley is a man of excel
lent abilities and high character. He
would make a good President, although
we do not think he will secure the NOM
nation and believe the Republican
party can do better than by choosing
HIM Yet he is a man for whom Re-
gladly vote if he receives the nominal
ton at St Louis. For these reasons ii
| is extremely unfortunate that such
suspicious have arisen.
| But above all this is a year when the
| manufacturers of the country need not
| borrow any trouble lest the principle
| of protection be not maintained. The
people are the ones, this year who
want protection and are bound to have
it. 1t is the pure Republican brand of
the article moreover, that they want
and propose to have. They resent any
|
have picked out favorite to be swept
into the executive chair on the rising
and irresistible tide of protection.
i The country is sick to the heart of any
professional favoritism. The iniqu
tous Wilson-Gorman tariff is honey
combed with it. That blotch of legis
| :.
is designed to protect a few favored
Industries at the expense of the
country generally. We want no more
of it, will have no more of it, and need
no campaign funds obtained in that
way. Through the hard lesson of the
past three years the people of this
country are completely convinced that
the simon-pure principle of Republican
protection is in the interests of the
people. We all can recall instances
| where great manufacturers have ac-
know!edged that they We're not afraid
Of free trade. Those remarks We're
caught up by the Democratic writer's
ana speakers ana nefaIueQ ABROAD.
The voters now know why it was those
manufacturers We're not afraid of free
trade; because with their enormous
| plants firmly established they knew
that the sacrifices of such policy
must be made in the wages of their
worltingmen, while some of the COM
paratiyely weak competitors of these
| great concerns would be destroyed
This year the mass of those who enjoy
the right of suffrage in these United
| States is to vote for protection FOR the
people and is in no mood to bear kind
ly with the efforts of few represen-
tatives of private interests to dictate
the terms of the tariff policy or select
any man to aid them in any such eff
fort. Indeed We're Mr., Mckinley to be
nominated and elected-and if nom
mated he will be elected-with any
such faint upon him, he would be
shorn of any power to aid favorites
We're he disposed to do so, and we are
not prepared to believe that he is
1t is also gratifying to note that
those making the charges declare that
they are in nowise actuated by a de.