The record-union., 1896-09-13
Weather Forecast.
,hern California-Fair Sunday; fresh
srly winds.
THE sILLINEss OF THE THING.


The Democracy is much put about
to impress voters with the idea that the
English wish Mr.. Mckinley to be
elected Really, it ought to make no
sort of difference what the English peo-
pie desire in the premises. They are
not running American politics, nor are
Republican candidates their servitors,
nor are they bounden to them in any
obligation whatever.
The English people, like the Aueri-s
can, are free and independent, and dis
cuss American politics with precisely
the same freedom as Americans discuss
English politics. Indeed, we believe
that we in this country concern our
selves about parties and men in the old
world great deal more than any State
OF the old world concerns itself about US
and our politics. Certainly this is true
of the American press, which never
tires of philosophizing and prophesying
about and criticising English, German
and French politics and governmental
conditions.
But If in the public estimation Eng
lish opinion as to American issues cuts
any figure, then the Republican party
and it's standard William Nc
Kinley. are heartily disliked in Eng
land. Here, as a single example, we
have the Investors Review" for Au-
gust, a leading English business and
financial magazine, discussing the po-
IiticaI position in the United States,
and declaring that no respect can be
entertained for the Republican party,
nor yet for Major Mckinley.
1t 'has no faith in the sincerity Of his
economic utterances," which is too bad,
to be sure. Again it declares that in
selecting Governor Mckinley "the Re
publican party went low down in the
scale Of public men" which is bad again..
certainly Surely the next time the
Republican party will consult English
thought-leaders as to the scale Of pub
lie men from which it should choose
candidates.
mckinley is the product Of a politi-
cal machine" exclaims this critic. He
is "the ding-dong mouthpiece Of the
ultra-protectionist monopolists." Of
course, this was to be expected Of free
trade advocate, but that Mckinley
should be dubbed "ding-dong mouth
piece" is really enough to make Repub-
licans mad, very angry, indeed. and we
10 ha
gestion that the matter be made an in
ternational one, to the end that the
Englishmen at the thought-end OF the
Review" may be muzzled.
The magazine then turns TO the party
itself. which it declares Is without
moral purpose. without guides OF abil-
ity and true patriotism, and therefore
can afford no rallying point to those who
might IL well guided. save the nation"
Rarrinp the bad grammar this is really
humorous. But 1t is not more or less
ludicrous than what follows, in which
the party is charged with being guilty
of all manner Of outrages on ballot
boxes. bribery, swindles. thievery, and
"tbe author OF a protectionist policy
that has fraudulently imposed some
35.OOO.OOO pounds sterling year of
pensions-burdens ON the taxpayers.
Then this English wiseacre proceeds
to notnt out that our country may be
on the eve of dismemberment and war,
and that the republic stands chance
to 90 down In the wreck Of matter and
the crash of worlds But rising above
all this. and shining as the one star OF
hope Is w. J. Bryan. in the estimation
Of the Investors Review" He stands
on an attractive platform, we are told,
and that he has strong personal magne-
tism and can talk well. and then the
English financial magazine proceeds to
laud Mr.. Bryan and the Democracy and
their Populist backing to the vauited
skies.
Now, really. II there is anything what
ever in the attitude Of the representa-
tive Unslish press toward parties and