The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-04

many States which in nearly all pre-
vious national elections have been
cast for Democratic candidates, and
always for low tariffs, were given to
Mr.. Mckinley because he stood for
maintenance of the nations faith and
credit, the integrity of its public
pledges and obligations, the stability
of its finances and the honesty of its
coined and stamped money. In the
evolutions of political strife he had
become more than the standard
bearer of his party, and hundreds of
thousands of Democrats who had in
no way changed their principles, as
they were proclaimed i'll their national
platform of 1892, went to his support
under a sense of patriotic duty. That
was how the great State of New York
reversed the vote it gave in favor of
Cleveland and tariff reform in 1899
and gave the enormous plurality of
nearly 269, 900 votes for Mckinley and
sound money in 1896. That was why
New Jersey, for the first time in
twenty-four years, withheld its cleo
toral vote from the Democratic ticket
and gave the immense plurality of
nearly $4,000 to Mckinley. For the
same reason the States of Delaware,
Kentucky, Maryland and West Viz
GINA were all found in the Republi-
can column in spite of their strong
bias the other way.
The President who is to be inaugu-
rated to-day begins his administra-
ton, therefore, under conditions that
give him every encouragement to feel
that he is not simply the victorious
leader of one of the two great parties
but a Chief Magistrate chosen by q
union Of patriotic men of both parties
cooperating for the common good Of
the country. 1t has been APPLY said
that the conditions under which Mr.
Mckinley comes to the presidency are
favorable for the inauguration of an
other EZRA Of good feeling" like that
which made the administration of
President Monroe distinguished for
its lack of strong partisan activity.
The signs are abundant that the bus
mess interests Of the country and the
people generally will welcome SINH
lar period of peace in politics, with q
respite from bitter party warfare at
home and from adventurous and sen
satiOnal policies abroad. The general
desire of the American people is to
get down to business on a quiet and
secure basis as quickly as possible
and to have no more violent political
agitations of any kind until the bust
ness prosperity of the country has
been firmly re-established. In order
that this desire may be realized the
new administration will need to deal
skillfully with the situation, which is
by no means free from troublesome
features.
1t is settled that there is to be an
extra session for the purpose of revis-
ing the tariff. The indications are
that the administration proposes to
deal cOnservatively with this un-
avoidable disturbance of both manu-
featuring and importing interests
We do not anticipate that the clamOr
of the Republican extremists for re
turn to the extraordinary duty rates
of 1890 will prevail, and there seems
to be fair prospect that the extra
session will do its tariff work prompt
ly and with moderation. If it does,
the business interests will be relieved
of all uncertainty as the new tariff
rates within forty or fifty days, and
that matter being disposed of there
will be nothing further to apprehend
in the way of national Legislation that
can interfere with the recovery of
trade and industry.
The dubious element in the imme-
diate prospect of the new administra-
ton is the Senate. There are but
forty-two sure Republican Senators.
Assuming that one more is obtained
from Kentucky, which is probable,
there will be then only forty-three.
Two more votes will be necessary to
give the Republicans an even half of
the Senators, which would enable
them to carry through party meas
ure, with the help of the Vice Presi-
dents casting vote. In this situation
of affairs the silver Senators will, no
doubt, try to play their old part of
holding the balance of power and de-
manding terms for their support. The
temptation of the new administration
is, therefore, likely to come early in
its history and compel it to choose be-
tween throwing some new sop to the
silver faction or seeing it's tariff bill
held up in the Senate. The country
has yet to find out the executive quail
ity of its new President. But at this
time optimism is a duty, and we must
hope for the best Mr.. Mckinley can
not possibly have larger difficulties to
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