The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-07
M'EIyLEY PRO and CON
Strength and Weakness of the
Ohio Napoleon.
HIS ELEMENTS OF POPULARITY.

inAtion-His Name the symbol Of n High |
Protective Tarir-But WIZ This Give the
Good Times Hoped For?
WASHINGTON, May 0. - Especial. = In
tho political world excitement is now at a
white heat. Only little more than
month hence tho Republican national con-
| yention will meet at St. Louis. Candor re-
quires the statement that among tho pub
| Ito men of this city there Is a genelal OK
peotation that Mckinley will be nominal
| cd on the first ballot, or the second at the
latest. While this is not conceded by tho
| opposition managers, and while the light
| will probably 90 on 90 the end, the prOba.
bilities are that Mckinley will win. The
hope Of the opposition is in q change OF
sentiment throughout tho party. For
| weeks tho leaders who were not for Nc
| Kinley have been preaching that the NOM
| ination of the Ohio man would DO tho
weakest the party could mako. They have
been so thoroughly convinced OF this them
selves that they havo beloved they could
mako the whole party SEQ with their eyes.
For this reason they have constantly pro-
dicted a change Of sentiment. They have
said again and again that tho sober, con-
suryatiYe opinion of the party would turn
against Mckinley and make his success an
impossibility. II one may judge from tho
action OF state conventions, the predicted
change Of feeling has not yot como. Five
sixths OF the delegates TO tho national con-
yention have been elected, and 1t is every
where conceded that about ono-half OF
them arc for Mckinley. IL the predicted
change Is to come, it will have to come
pretty soon In order to have any bearing
upon tho result.
The Anti-McI1inlcyitos.
While It is and long has been my per-
sonal opinion that Mckinley will carry OH
tho prizo at ST. Louis l do not close my
eyes to tho arguments made against the
wisdom of his selection. i will give this
argument ms got 1t from tho anti-McKtn-
Icy leaders here, and tho reader may him
self Judge of tho soundness Of it.
Tho chief objection TO Mckinley is that
his namo stands as the symbol for high
protective tariff. No ono claims that the
Republican party is anything but high
tariff party, or that tho election OF Nc
Kinley TO tho presidency Is likely to change
the policy or the legislation of that party
after it comes into power. The danger Is
that tho masses of the people Will DO
griovously disappointed In tho final re-
suits, and in their disappointmont will
swing to the other extreme and goasainst
the Republicans at tho next opportunity.
1t is undeniable that the strength OF Mo.
Kinley's support IS among the masses of
tho people. Tho farmers the mechanics,
the small business mon, tho laborors, the
salaried people, want him. They want
him because they believe his election will
bring again tho good times which the
country had In 1890 and 1892. All over
: the country these people arc shouting for
Mckinley. They will not listen to the
nomination of any ono but him,
The Party Leaders.
Right hero the party leaders, or many OF
; them, intorpose their objection. On this
very ground they contend that tho nomi-
nation Of Mckinley will DO mistake.
His election will raise too high the hopes
of tho people The expected good times,
, the looked for advance OF wages, will not
} como, or, If they come at oil, very slowly,
3 almost imperoeptibly. just as soon as II
? dawns upon tho people that they are not
) to got what they want; that their hopes
q aro TO DO crushed; that Troy have been Go
ceived or have deceived themselves, it il
feared thero will como such reyulsion o.
= feeling as will sweep the Republican party
out of power.
On this basis the argument Is mado that
q the nomination of Mckinley will DO un
: wise and dangerous; that It will intensity
the inevitable reaction and lead certainly
to ultimate disaster. 1t Is intended thai
the nomination Of moro conservative
man. or of u man from whom the masses
will not expect SO much, and therefor'
: will not be so bitterly disappointed, would
be the part of wisdom.
l. In other words, the Republican leader
= who oppose Mckinley are striving to aver
o O recurrence Of those conditions which
n tend almost inevitably to succession o
. parties in power Readers of my dis
!, patches will remember that four years az
" / pointed out the existence OF law which
l. for n long time TO como would swing III
j. pendulum of popular sentiment first on
% way and then another, putting now on
}, party and now its rival In power. Tha
|. law Is in operation today. 1t Is this prin
r. ciplo which is driving Mckinley towar
;, tho White House. and IL be gets there tn
:, Same law will probably drive him out fou
= years hence and put q Democrat In hi
- place.
II The VIII of the People.
u Tho argument of tho mon who oppos
% Mckinley is that his nomination and cleo
q ton will cause the pendulum to swim
t. farther than 1t would go with some othe
It nominee They admit that Mckinley coul
NJ probably command great vote In lS9
!. because the masses and tho working mi
lions are for him, but they claim tho dis
astor IN 1900 will be just so much IN
greater.
il There Is philosophy in this, but 1t Is nc
enough TO change the current. Besides,
!, should DO remembered that It Is hazardou
- for any party to thwnrt tho will OF I'll
oV people. Suppose Mckinley were to DO d.
d. feated at St Louis on account OF prudenC
Of because tho leaders of the party were lool
W ing ahead to 1900 as we'll as 70 next M
III yember Then suppose the predicted goo
times were not TO come. Would not u
70 disappointed masses say to tho politicians
~ ut Is all your fault. We wanted McINii
y ley and you wouldn't let us have him"
40 Reduced to q simple statement tho la
10 which produces succession OF parties
~ power through reactions in public sent
I'd ment Is a stronger principle than anythln
n. else now operating in the political Geld.
no Is stronger than party scheme or politic
IL manipulation. 1t Is stronger than any ma
or combination OF men. Mckinley hal
pens to be the logical idol of the reactioi
cd lists, and he Is borne along upon the Gre
so of their wayo Tho politicians, the boss
and tho philosophers are alike powerless
prevent the operation OF this great for
In our body polite.
ns WALTER WELLMAN.
french Fishermcn's wives.
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