The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-23
Peril Of Being
Too Popular
From the Washington Post.

rum lHe w IOSt.
1t must be a callous and a selfish heart
which does not go out in compassion
these days to the Hon. William McKin-
ley. He is president of the United States,
to be sure, and he has more power than
the head of any civilized or semi-civiized
nation in the world except the czar of
Russia. His is the proudest position OF
them all, moreover, because he rules by
the consent of the people, because he Is
the choice of those over whom ne pre-
sides He is the one man living who gov
erns 75,OOOO0O of enlightened human be-
ings as the result OF their own deliberate
preference. 1t is impossible to imagine
position more brilliant than that which
Mr.. Mckinley occupies today. And yet,
we say again that 1t must be a callous
heart which does not feel for him, even
in this hour Of his glory and his exalta-
ton.
Surely never before In the history of tho
country has a president been so beset by
claimants and petitioners, so besieged by
solicitation and Importantly. OF course,
much of this is Cue to the fact that he Is
more widely known than any one who
ever entered the executive mansion be-
fore. What we mean is that he is per-
sonally known by and on terms of affec-
tionate intimacy with more men than any
president in the whcle list was at the mo-
ment OF his induction into office Mr.. Me-
Kinley's military service his twenty
years of congressional life, his long prom
inence in Ohio politics-all these combined
with his personal attractions, his gift of
making friends, his kindly nature, and
his simple, unaffected manners, have en-
veloped Tim in popularity which, how
ever welcome to man of his tempera-
ment, is for the moment the chief cause
of his Affections. 1t is perhaps safe to
co hnf 10 fyA ma 10 rit itNF nf NKTh n
now clamor for admission to his presence,
and thereby make his life well nigh intol-
cradle, entertain for him the deepest and
sincerest regard. The chances are that
they admire and esteem him personally
and that such services as they may have
| rendered would have been at his dispo-
SAL If need were, without the smallest
promise of reward. 1t is easily conceiv-
able of a man of Mr.. McKinley's charac-
| ter that men may love and help and ad-
mire him for himself II Is conceivable
of these things which now make Mr.. Nc
| kinley's pathway one OF thorns that they
| have not once considered how appalling
burden they are imposing upon the man
| they so esteem and honor. The fact re-
| mains, however. The opportunities by
which Mr.. Mckinley is beset; the con-
| slant, fierce, and unrelenting claims upon
| his time; the tireless assiduity of those
who seek his audience; conspire to make
u persecution DtlOTc which the nlOSl Ill
| trepid man on earth would stand aghast.
%
The simple truth of the matter is that
| these excellent and well-meaning persons
are making the presidents life unbear-
| able. IL he were a selfish and coarse
grained man. Indifferent to the feelings
of others, ungrateful for affection and
service, and insensible to the sorrows and
| disappontments of his fellow-men, Mr..
Mckinley would experience but slight dis
| comfort under the conditions that now
prevail. He would simply close his doors
| upon the crowd and leave them to per-
sist or to despair as they might prefer.
| The trouble In his case is that he sympa-
| thizes with one and all of them, wishes to
see each applicant and TO say or do for
| him what he can in the way of encour-
agement and kindness, Eminence has not
| estranged him from his fel,ow-citizens.
He is as genuine, as sincere, as unaffected
as he was In his quiet country home at
Canton, where all regarded him and all
We're free to enter the circumference OF
his sympathies We think so well of hu-
man nature as TO believe that II those
who now besiege the executive mansion
so stubbornly and yet so unavailingly
would weigh the considerations We have
offered them they would abate some-
thing Of their resolute persisteney.