The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-29

nous and abnormal weight today. even
/. he could satisfy all the promises and
intinations that have been given out iu-
uer his name.
With the exception OF Blaine, Mckinley
IS, undoubtedly. the strongest Republican
among the plain people that has sprung
up since the war. His strength, Is, oT
course, largely due TO his close associattSh
with the high protective principle. Since
the repeal OF the Missouri compromise
brought about the great anti-slavery re-
Nulsion, there has never been a polite Al
unexpected as the one which the protee-
tonists had the good fortune 10 enjoy
after the panic Of 1895. Tha, reaction Is
sun IN force today among the multitude.
ana Mckinley has been It's beneficiary.
BGt there Il one source of his strength
which thli.k has been FOR the most para
overlooked. He comes nearer to the type
or the "selt-made" or "homespun" Amer
ican OF the popular pattern of Lincoln
and Garfield than any o. his rivals. Reed
Il by far the ahlest of them all, but he
gives out sense of superiority which the
average American distrusts or fears; he
Is far better equipped for the presidency
by education and broad aptitudes fos
Craftsmanship than Mckinley; but there
is vague idea in the popular mind thar
he is too smart" and too fond of his own
way. Mckinley. with his amiable tens
per. his air CT sincerity, his gentle Dis
nifty, his simplicity or habit, his ever
ready Willingness TO work for the party,
his clean life. without the breath of sean,
dal upon it. his rugged boyhood and his
good old mother al the age of 81 hoping
TO live long enough 10 see her lad enter tie
waite house. are some OF the things which
have helped 10 make Mckinley akin 10
an ideal figure in the eyes of the people
who hang Up pictures of the great rail-
splitter and the bare-footed tow path boy
In their little pariors.
There Is another interestin fact worth
noticing in connection with these thoughts.
The odds are always heavily against the
presidential candidate who comes from
out of d big city. There has never yet
been a city-born and city-bred man elect
ed to the presidency. Nearly all the can,
didates have been picked out from the
ranks of the public men who have been
brought up in the country, Or whose lives
have been associated in large part with
the farm or with rural populations. Tilden
was the hrst man identified with gres:
city TO receive a nomination for the presi-
dency: Cleveland and Harrison, born in
rustic households, afterward driftcd to
communities like Buffalo and lndianapo,
us: Arthur was the one perfect type OF
the well,bred city man to reach the white
house, although he had the foundation of
country training. He is also the only
occupant of the Office who stepped into 1t
out OF the ranks of the practical or man
aging politicians, In a country where !.
per cent. of the population is made up of
farmers. where three e-fourths of 1t live In
small communities and where popular cul-
ture has yet to reach that stage when a
statesman who has passed through a col-
lege and who has the manners of a gem
tleman will not be regarded Us an upstaW
or dude it is pretty hard to overcome the
kind of sentiment which regards Il plain,
good-natursd and simple-speaking man
like Mckinley, as the right type of Ameri-
can manhood. In contest of wit or
learning or fulness of information or the
mastery of men who are men among men,
Mckinley would undoubtedly be inferior
to not only Reed, but either Allison or
Quay. 1t is impossible to find anywhere
In Mckinley's record any transaction
which indicates cleverness or brilliai:cy.
But there is very much of the earnestness
of man who takes life seriously, and
whose strong, yet half-kndly face catches
the sympathy of the multitude. 1t was
this personality that attracted men to him
in the Chicago Auditorium eight years
ago, when he might have had the nominal
ton instead of Harrison, IL he had not
finally mounted a chair In the convention,
and, with simple eloQuence that came di-
rect from his heart. renounced the temp:a-
ton which Garfield could not resist; and it
was at Minneapolis again that it T.
tracted Quay, Platt and the rest OF the
broken Quay line to Mckinley as their
last available hope Of stampede against
Harrison.