Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-28
N.,KJNIEY'S LETTER.

Hon. William Mckinley's letter formally
accepting the nomination of the Republic
can party for the presidency. which was
published in full I'm the Dispatch of yes
terday. Is. taken as n whole about as
good a presentation Of the Republican
side of the question as could have been
made. Yet, when it is analysed, when its
various subdivisions are critically ex-
amined, II will be seen that II Is an
adroit mosaic of his Canton speeches,
made to numerous delegations represent
ing various interests that have visited
his home since the St. Louis convention.
In these speeches AIR. Mckinley has
proved himself all things to all men,
except the extreme silverites, and even
TO these he throws a bait in his letter
when IL comes to treat of bimetallism-
bait we were prepared for in the in
terview his manager. Mark Hanna, gave
out in Boston the other day.
The first part of the letter is devoted
10 the currency question. as if Mr.. Nc
Kinley considered that the paramount
issue. but we learn upon reading further
on that he does not so consider II. As
he warns up to his work we find that he
is q. protectionist above everything else
on this subject he becomes almost elo-
quent. and shows consciousness TO use
Hanna's words, Of representing the
policy Of protection as no other public
man does"
Mr.. McKinley's discussion Of free silver
is plausible. but it is ingenious, rather
than original. 1t demonstrates the faculty
on his part of recasting the worn
out arguments of the opponents of free
coinage. but not the faculty Of creating.
He rings the changes on the 5S-cent dol
lar. but begs the question throughout.
His remarks on the currency problem will
convince no thinking man. However, it
would be unreasonable and illogical to
expect Mr.. Mckinley to be very strong
and original in attacking free silver.
From the standpoint Of the simon-pure
goldites. he has been quite fshy on the
financial issue i'm times past
But. recurring to his dissertation on
the tariff. we may say that he writes
with thorough confidence. Mckinley Is
himself again. We have Mckinley, the
Republican. unhampered by any record
that would cast a suspicion on his sim
cerity. We have the Napoleon of protec-
ton in all his glory. He tells us that
another issue of supreme importance Is
that of protection" and then proceeds TO
argue that protection is the supreme
issue. The Republican party, he declares
is welded to the doctrine of protection.
and was never more earnest in its sup
port and advocacy than now. Thus Mr..
Mckinley proves his inability to practice
what he and the other Republican leaders
have been preaching to the gold Demo-
Gratis. and that is that they ought to rise
above party "in this crisis" Thus he
confounds the Democratic papers that
leaped upon the ST. Louis platform before
they looked.
Mr. Mckinley makes wellworded not
10 say. very feeling reference to the
death of sectionalism and the oonsumma-
ton of reconciliation between the North
and the South. But we must be excused
from putting too much faith in his
protestations of joy over this consumma-
ton. We must have better evidence of
his having repented Of his course in cham
pioning and voting for the Lodge force
bill than his letter affords of his having
experienced a change of heart touching
other Republican policies.