Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-27
Mr.. NckinIey's Letter.

Mr. Mc<inley's letter of acceptance,
which appears in print today, Is docu-
ment of great interest to the country and
of great value to his party. 1t Is char
acteriZed by candcr, by thorough grasp
of the subjects treated, and by very clear
power of expression. No pertinent point is
evaded. none misstated. There are no ap-
pcals either to passion or to prejudice.
There are no epithets. The letter, in
word. is the production of a man who.
called to leadership IN a time of genuine
peril, takes his position with care and con-
srrvatism, and asks for trial of the case
i'll the forum of intelligence and patriotism.
Whatever criticism the opposition may
offer, II cannot be based upon the old COM
paint about the subordination of the
money issue. That is the first issue dis
cuSsed. and the space given to it is in every
way sufficient. Mr.. Mckinley plants him
self FIRMLY and squarely the st. Louis
platform. and declares for the existing
standard of value until n new one can be
provided by international agreement in the
most unmistakable terms. His argument
against free coinage as an independent act
ny TINS government is admirably supported
by facts and statistics quoted, and abounds
III episram- No man has packed so much
on the subject into one sentence as he has
in the declaration that the policy of free
silver seeks to introduce a new measure of
value. but would add no value to the thing
measured. But while declaring against
free silver an Independent policy by this
government. he pronounces for bimetallsm
by International agreement, and pledges
himself if elected President to use his high
ofti,'= TO promote the attainment of that
end
ON the subject of protection Mr. Mckinley
IL of course entirely at home. But it was
Necessary in handling ii for him to reply to
the charge that the meaning of his election
would L. the return to the tariff bill bear
ing his name. This he has done in frank
and straightforward way. After showing
the great benefits of protection as applied
by the republican party in the past, and
pointing out the shortcomings of the tariff
bill now i'll operation, he says:
Protection has lost none of its virtues
and Importance. The first duty of the re-
publican party If restored to power in the
country will be the enactment of a tariff
law which will raise all the money neces-
sary to conduct the government, econonl-
icaIly and honestly administered and so
adjusted as to give preference to home
manufactures and adequate protection to
home labor and the home market.
We are not committed TO any special
schedules or rates of duty. They are and
should he always subject to change to meet
new conditions. but the principle upon
which rates of duty are imposed remains
the same. Our duties should always be
high enough to measure the difference be-
tween the wages paid labor at home and in
competing countries. and to adequately pro-
tect American investments and American
enterprises
The para graphs relating to reciprocity,
immigration, pensions. the merchant ma
rine, the navy, are all forcible and to the
point. while his championship of civil SER
vice reform shows earnest sympathy with
one or the best expressions of our progress
in the conduct of public affairs.
With a patriotism characteristics of the
man. and felicity all his own. Mr. Nc
kinley closes his letter with an expression
of pleasure at the almost entire disappear
ance Of the sectional lines and feelings that
for so long survived the war for the Union.
He rejoices in the re-establishment of a
lively national spirit, and as a man who
partil ipated in the struggle for the Union,
he has high right to speak and to be heard
He stands by his cause and his comrades
but does so without passion or reproaches
Tor those of the other side, of whose low
atty to the restored Union he entertains
no doubts This utterance comes appro-
priately no less from the man who fought
IN the war. than from him who If elected
President will represent all the people. So
that in expressing his confidence in all the
people he invites their confidence in him
self.