The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-04
THE NEW PRESIDENT.

1HE N Il HRES1OEN4s
Today witnesses an event which is
ever interesting to the people of the
whole country, the Inauguration of
president. The interest is enhanced
when this great office is assumed by a
man new to the position and of an OPP
posite POLITICAL faith to the retiring ex-
ecutive.
Never, perhaps, since the Inaugural
ton of Abraham Lincoln has a presi-
dent entered upon the discharge of the
duties of his office, with more work at
hand that needs doing, than President
Mckinley, as he must now be called,
will find. On his ability to right exist
ing wrongs, restore depressed business
conditions, pilot the country safely
through it's various foreign complica-
lions and to place it on a sound finan-
cial basis will depend the success or
failure of his administration.
The power of the chief executive in
shaping public policy and events has
been clearly demonstrated by Mr.. Nc
Kinley's predecessor on more than one
occasion. Mr.. Cleveland's gravest err
ror perhaps was in assuming that he
was not only the ruler of the country
but also the ruler of his party. 1t is to
be hoped that the new president will
not follow the lead of the old in this
respect.
When the people vote a party into
power which has enunciated a well
defined platform of principles they have
a right to expect that those principles
will be carried out. If the legisla tive
branch of the government prove rec
reant to the trust thus imposed, some
excuse may be found for the adoption
by the executive, of Mr.. Cleveland's
methods. But the formation of a new
policy and one that the people did not
vote for, by the president, is inexcusa-
BILE and deserves the rebuke which was
administered last fall. President Nc
Kinley will probably avoid this mis-
take.
The present and specific needs of
the country are doubtless apparent to
the president. There are many thous-
ands of idle people in the country who
want work. Those who voted for him
last fall did so in the belief that these
idle people would get work if he were
successful. That he will do his best to
see that they are not disappointed
scarcely admits of a doubt.
Large amounts of capital are lying
idle in the bank vaults of the country,
and many great commercial enterprises
are at standsitll or are being operated
at loss. Most of these supported Mr..
Mckinley last fall and did so in the
belief that he and his party would give
them relief. That their faith has not
been shaken is proven by the fact that
a marked improvement in business cir
cles is already apparent. That the
president will strive to meet theexpecta-
ton of the business men and others
may be confidently expected.
Though some complications in our
foreign relations have arisen since the
formulation of the st. Louis platform,
the sentiment of the country has been
so thoroughly and so loudly expressed
that the president probably has no
doubts regarding his duty and what is
expected of him. One who is so thor
oughly American in some respects will
doubtless prove just as patriotic in all
matters involving national pride and
justice to our citizens all over the
world.
Peoule of all political faiths will agree
that the system in vogue at present of
running the government on borrowed
money is a bad one and there can be
little doubt that Mr.. Mckinley will
find some way to remedy this evil. He
has given evidence that he expects to
do so by bringing about a revision of
the tariff. If he can do so without any
great injustice to any class of citizens
all will unite in commencing him.
The country is ripe for Improvement
and is hopeful Of 1t. Even the political
opponents of the administration have
declared that they will place no OBJ
stacle in its way. It is to be hoped