The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
MATT MYN0R ON
WILLIAM MCKINLEY

was DISAPPOINTMENT. This Is conceded
by his most ardent party admirers. 1t
does not show that Mckinley Is a strong
man. 1t exhibits to the con .rary. Pres
idents are generally measured by the
messages they write. McKinley's has
fallen flatter than did those of the
fraudulent Hayes. His message does
not denote a wide experience in public
affairs. His warmest faithful friends
admit that he has failed to grasp the
fun purport of all situations. McKin ey
is MT a dreamer. He is not a .heorist.
He is not great man. He is not a
statesman. He is a clever man, but
this quality cuts little figure in states
manship. Mckinley became prominent
before the country upon sentiment. His
course in congress was safe, but not
aggressive. He. was a compromissr
rather than a fighter Affable in debate
Courteous to an antagonist. He was
not a thinker. He had a hobby. 1t
was protection He rode it night and
day. He championed but single ISSUE
He left his imprint upon no legislation
save that In the Fifty-first congress.
Reed made him chairman of the ways
and means committee. He framed the
tariff bill bearing his name. 1t was
the most unjust piece Of legislation ever
placed upon the statute books. 1t IVES
the friend of trusts, and the enemy OF
abor 1t enriched the few and impoV-
erished the many. 1t placed luXur1es
upon the free list and fixed high duty
upon necessities. Tt stalked into the
homes of the honest laborsr and robbed
the wives and children of food and CLOTH
ing. 1t met the condemnation of the
people.
It's author met his congressional Wa
terloo when the people passed judgment
upon it. Mckinley was heralded as
the great apostle of infant industries.
He advocated the opening of the mills
and a poorer price paid ito labor. He
made it possible for the rich to build
palaces while the poor sought shelter In
novels. He built up class of aristoc-
1icy at the expense of the honest toiler.
HIS bill advanced the price OF every
thing except labor He furnished the
palaces with the richest tapestry free
of duty and levied tax upon the coat
of the laboring man that protected MIN
from the storms of winter. He deceived
the people. With all this there was
sentiment growing around Mckinley
which bore him above the position he
rightfully occupied.
/ Sentimentality called him from retire
ment and made him governor of Ohio.
No adminisllra ton of that state was
ever a more dismal failure. His party
was entrenched in the citadels of power.
Extravagance in the expenditure of pub
lie money ran riot. Corruption -four
loI, at a stand
still. The state treasury was empty
and the channels of trade demoralized.
Ohio's credit descended in the scale un-
till it's bonds were a drug upon the mar
Ket. During this time he Endorsed a
friends private paper to the extent of
s11S.OOO. Sertimentality ruled again.
Paper with McKinley's Endorsement was
taken by bankers and corporations with
out question. He, the champion OF the
trusts and the enemy of I.he poor people,
was false to those who had reposed con-
fdence in him. Mark Hanna and H. H.
Kohlsaat, then a pie baker, now editor OF
the Chicago Tlmes-Herald, aroused SEN
tfmentaiity once more, and passed the
hat in behalf of Mckinley. Sentfme n
tally contributed literally. The $11S,OOO
Endorsement was wiped out by sentiment
UallIY. MdTh f1d1llld anu INOnlSeiob iO-
turned ITO him his notes and said he
owed nothing. Sentimentality had
placed Mckinley upon his financial feet,
as it were. He retired from the gov
ernors(hip of Ohio, leaving behind him
bankrupt treasury.
Sentlmentality was again aroused He
was now candidate for the presidency.
1,a lah in
| congress contributed money for his NOM
nation. The man who had been faith
full to them in the halls of congress could
| be of additional service to them as the
chief executive. They believed that
with Mckinley at THE helm they could
corner the markets of the world and
grind the laboring man still deeper into
poverty. When he sat in the halls of
congress, he was the advocate of the
| free coinage of silver. When the trusts
| in behalf of protection demanded his
nomination at SIT. Louis he became thsir
champion of gold standard. Changed
| his principles for office. Sentimentality
had again triumphed. He bore from
| st. Louis victory obtained under false
| pretences. At that convention the is
| sue was fairly drawn. 1t was. the gold
| standard upon the one SIDE ana une Tree
| coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1
upon the other. Mckinney placed his
past behind him. He was borne upon
| the wave of popularity, the champion
| of a cause which he always despised.
| His manager was the most corrupt ma
| nipulator in modern politics. He knew
no principal of success except purchase.
The watchword was triumph no, matter
whit the method.
From the middle of July until the first
| Tuesday in November he stood upon the
| porch of his home in Canton and made
speeches daily to thousands of visitors
! Sentimentaltty was hell-bent for Can.
| ton. The public was made to believe
| that popular acclaim and approval OF
| principles was the cause of these jour-
| neys to Canton. 1t was lie. 1t was a
| fraud. 1t was a disgrace to intelligence
| 1t was a corruption of politics. 1t was
receiving honors under false pretenses
1t was done to deceive the people. II
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