The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-15
And They Are Determined to
Try Mckinley.
AS TO VICE PRESIDENT
Nobody Cherishes an Ambition
In That Direction.
Mr. TnoaITs fs Informed That
Tom Reed "Cussed."

from LOUIS are Ala =AA@ 1~A---@-- p
Characteristic vein
In spite of the great array Of great
Republican leaders against him, Mr.
ingalls, says, Mckinley has swept away
all his adversaries. He continues:
But the people have been schoOled
by years of adversely. They are ac-
ouainted with hard times. They are
weary with low wages and falling
prices. The farmers want the country
to sell more corn and less bonds
THE plain common people WhoIn
Lincoln said the Lord must love be-
cause he made 50 many OF them, are
tired of a tariff for revenue that re-
suits only in deficiencies They nave
learned that the American laborer earns
no wages on commodities made ABROAD,
and that If q man has no money "
makes no difference to him how cheap
the necessaries of life are at nome
They have become Indifferent 10 the al-
lurements of the markets of the world
"1IcKinley's unprecedented strength
and popularity come almost exclusive
IS from his Identification with an idea
and a policy that the mass Of the poo
pie believe to be Indispensable 10 ma
tional solvency and individual prosper
ity. They have at last become fully
conscious of the possession of pow er
and resOlutely determined upon aus OK
ercise They have emancipated them
selves from the dominion of bosses and
rings and machines
THE convention Will be a ratification
meeting the verdict has been written
The decree of the people viii be p1 o.
rnulgated Allison. Reed. Morton and
Quay may be put i'm nomination, but 1t
viii be q perfunctory performance tar
get practice: illumination. firing in the
air voleys over the dead.
PLAT is here. but there is neither
pride in his port nor defiance in his eye
He is too astute politician not to
know that he is champiOning another
lost cause- that he is lighting the IN
evitable. Tt is said that he viii bolt
If his delegates are not seated AID
there are vague rumors ana hOatlng
whispers of dynamite explosions and
some waiting catastrophe i'm the con-
vention. but they excite small interest,
are answered with a languid smile, and
the committee proceeds with compos-
ure to hear contested cases and seat
Mckinley delegates.
"The painful predicament of Mr. Man
ley arOuses compassion AFTER cen
ceding, in an unguarded moment Of
candor. the nomination of Mckinley en-
the first ball0the now urges the friends
of Mr. Reed to more strenuous efforts
in his behalf. These Statments appear
fncompatfble with each other. and also
with Mr.. 0Ianley's reputation as po-
litical manager, but it is difficult to per
ceive why he should be charged with
treachery The fame Of Mr.. Reed is too
great to be enhanced by the frivolous
distinction of being utilized in nom
mating speech and registered as an UNI
successful aspirant for the presidency
Speaking of the vice presidency SEN
ator ingalls, said-
EMO one of first rank In this genera
tiOn has been willing to rest under the
imputation of cherishing an ambition
for the vice presidency. To be suspect
ed of such a desire would be resented
with Indignation and derisiOn.
Hendricks was coerced into accept
ing the nomination with Cleveland and
Logan hesitated long before yielding to
the opportunities of his friends to go
on the ticket with Blaine, while the
convention was waiting at Chicago to
learn his decision.
THE office is honorable 1t has dig
nifty. Its yoke is easy and its burden is
light The compensation is ample. To
a man of fortune it affords exceptional
opportunities for social distinction Its
duties are entirely optional. The i'm
cumbent need never attend a session
Of tine senate except TO take the oath Of
olhce, and his absence would neither be
noticed nor felt In the majority of
instances the public business would
proceed better without him than with
him. The right to vote in a case Of
tie can be exercised only to carry
measure for when the senate is equal
ly divided the question is lost
Io ain Idle man, or g vain man. the
place might have charms but to ain
ambitious man it offers no field for the
activity Of his energies, and no oppOr-
tunity for promotion, except by q trag-
edy. a crime or catastrO phe-what
Edmunds once called "the lottery of
assassination"
I'm the early days of the republic
there were great vice idents-Burr
Adams and Calhoun-but by the sub
Tie changes in our political system the
office has steadily declined in estima-
Dol ana importance till it has become
a place administered to appease a sui
len antagonist or pr0pitiate a doubtful
locality That he might not appear TO
be waiting at the capitol for the fatal
-ly lnat can alone put the scepter in
ms hands like a spendthrift inna tfent
TOT the demise of his ancestors it be-
came necessary to give the vice presi-
AeA4L some nQDEEE junction
4y justify his existence. and he was
MADE the president of the senate FTa
might as wen have been speaker Of the
mouse, or chief justice of the supreme
court or governor of the District 0f
Columbia. and historically would have
1een as well qualified for one as the
other
.The original desien undoubtedly, was
LlaI the vice president should be the
friend and assistant of the president ~
tAe lieutenant governor CO. operates with
Ene executive of state. But in the
----tt--lons OF our politics II usually
happens that he represents a hostile
-e-ellon ana is regarded with fndfffer-
ence or aversion by the chief unaeis-
trate and his adherents
For many weeks before his death
earned was as incapable of dfschara-
70 any pubic duty as the ashes in his
sepuLchra would be today He was mn
able to write his name NTu0t, ~ 40
time ne was Unconscious The n7,tiic
business was in allegiance Here was
plainly the condition Of dfsahfIffv ~
meet which the Office Of the vice mes
ident was created. but had Arfl71r ~
tered the door of the White House In
that interval and attempted to Darforro
the least important executive act. the
smculdering passions of that tro77bla7
epoch might have burst out into rrD-
test, and perhaps into revolution For
Aunareiy, that gracious and princelv
man conducted himself with such die
nifty and prOpriety that enmitv was dis
armed and g formidable crisis averted.