The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-02
Tbe Balance Sheet.

A correspondent in Reading requests US
to add two items to the discredit account
of President MCKINLEY:
ITO rHR EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: I have read with
some interest Chapter One OF MCKINLEY in to-day's
SUE, but it has occurred to me that II might have
BEEN we'll 20 have appended q section to this article
containing tho sins OF omission on the part OF
President MoKpurT. Two subjects Of intense inter
eat 20 the American people, which might have been
mentioned under this head, are made particularly
conspicuous py their absence, namely:
Ell. The failure OF MCKINLEY to enforce the Anti.
rrurs law which appears upon our statute books,
and relieve the people of the ~biiEhting rulo Of the
trusts ian unlawful combination. or conspiracy.
rather, which II stining competition in trade and con-
centratins the wealth OF tho country in the hands Of
O few). thus giving the impression that the present
Administration has surrendered tho control OF the
Government to the trusts or that the immense combi-
nations Of capital are exempt from tho law that gov
ems the common people.
Ell. The failure of MCKINLEY TO fulnl the pledge OF
the Republican party embraced in the Cuban plank
Of the st. Louis platform, upon which he was elected.
and his duplicity in causing the Cuban belligercncy
resolution to DO blocked by the agents of the Admin
istrstiou in tho House of Representatives under the
prstonos that he was then engaged in formulating q
vigorous poloy. which would DO even moro satisfac-
to4y 70 the friends of Cuba than belligerency. and
which ho proposed to enact Immediately upon
the return from the bloody isle of his personal agent,
Judge CALHOUN. which he seemed to require because
the Intelligence, voracity. and patriotism OF Consul.
ennsral LIE, who II q Democrat. will not pass cur.
rent with Q Republican Administration Mr.. CALHOUN
has returned, Congress has adjourned, and MO
Hnnr1's muoh-vaunted vigorous a. Cuban policy has
apparently expired Of anamia; or perhaps he is with
holding 70 until q moro convenient season, say until
Senator nNuA's campaign in Ohio shall have need Of
q hypodermic injection Of .jinsoism.' Meanwhile.
WunnR's inhuman war goes on in Cuba, the con-
dition Of American interests in the island grows
worse. end our Government is busily engaged in as
sitting Spain 70 prevent the Cuban patriots from 40
auirtng the means Of continuing the heroic strife.
.Does Tm euH wish TO endeavor to palliate these
oronoesf II not, speak mp, and either condemn or
indoree MnKmzrs mastery policy OF inactivity
concerning these questions of 20 much Importance to
the American people. "A DEnocRAr.
"RnApuo. Pa, July 80"
Not approved or admitted to the account,
for two good reasons:
I. The phraseology Of our correspondence
6rut specification leads us to suppose that
he has been q student of the writings OF
President MoKINLBY's predecessor on the
subject Of trusts and combinations and
eonspiracies Of capital and blights and the
iron heel generally. But does he not re.
member hat in the very last of Mr.. CLEvK.
LANDS eight annual messages to Congress
that consecrated statesman excused him.
self for the non-enforcement of the anti.
trust avs on tho plea that it was
impossible to enforce them. Though
Congress-" said Mr.. CLEVELAND on Dec,
2 Of last year, "has attempted to deal
with this matter by legislation, tho lawt
passed for that purpose have thus fal
proved ineffective, not because of any lack
Of disposition or attempt to enforce them
but simply because the laws themselves, as
interpreted by the courts. do not reach the
difficulty" And again 1.-THE fact must BIZ
recognized that all Federal legislation or
this subject may fall short Of its purpos,
because of inherent obstacles, and also be
cause Of the complex character of our gov
ernmental system" With this despairing
Sigh, Mr.. CLEVELAND turned over the Trust,
TO. tho State Legislatures.
Why then should even one who, like GU,
Reading correspondent, shares Mr.. CLEvE
Lands ideas on the subject of trusts, asl
us to criticise Mr. MCKINLEY for not doin,
what Mr.. CLEVELAND. after eight years IL
ONCE, confessed himself powerless to dos
IL. 1t 10 too soon to write down conclu
sions respecting Mr.. MCKINLEY and Cuba
That belongs to Chapter Two.