Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-04
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

View tears Of regret will be shed be-
ssuse of Mr.. Cleveland's retirement from
Office to-day. Instead of his four years
term putting the country into Glover"
as the campaign song Of 1882 promised
all the forebodings Of those who opposed
his nomination have been realized. He
has succeeded in doing incalculable in
Jury to his party, without benefting the
country at large; and. whereas, he came
into power amid the shouts of many adj
mirers, his going out brings feeling OF
relief that cannot be concealed.
Yes; the people rejoice at the close OF
Mr.. Cleveland's term. even though it
ushers in the Mckinley Administration
Bad as Mr. Mckinley and Mr.. Hanna
are likely TO be in their management of
this country's affairs, it - inconceivable
and unbelievable that they can make
worse mess" Of them than Cleveland
has made
Mr.. Mckinley has the reputation of
being an amiable and tactful man. In
these respects, he viii shine to great adj
vantage IN comparison with Nh. Cleve-
land. The outgoing President can count
scarcely half dozen warm friends
among the public men at Washington,
other than those he has put into Office, On
the other hand, Mr. Mckinley is per-
sonaHy popular. and will try 10 con-
tinue so, nc doubt. 1t is said TO be
one of the zyeaknesses of his character
that he always allows himself to be con-
trolled by his friends. In the present
instance, IL is Mr.. Hanna who is the
power behind the throne.
Mr.. Hanna, OF course, stands for the
great protected manufacturers, and the
Wall-street combinations that secured
the nomination and election Of Ohio's
favorite son. Unless Mr.. Mckinley
breaks away from these men, we need
expect from him nothing but a sordid
administration, the chief object Of which
will be TO pay back to the Hanna syndi-
cate the money that it put up for his
election. So, McKinley's amiability will
count for little that is beneficial TO the
country II it is to be the instrument Of
Hanna's manipulations. If Mckinley
amiably yields to the Hannacratic in
fuences, his administration may prove
almost as great a curse to the country
as Cleveland's was.
we believe in giving all public officers
a fair trial At the same time, we know
that Mckinley, Hanna, and Sherman
have little, or nothing, in common with
the people Of the South, or with the
great agricultural classes of this country.
And we fear that Mr.. Mckinley enters
Office with no purpose of cutting loose
from his campaign associates. else he
would not have given Mr.. Sherman the
chief place in his Cabinet, and made
Governor Bushnell appoint Hanna to
the vacant senatorial seat.
So. while we truly rejoice that we are
not 10 have flour years more Of Grover, "
we cannot say we expect anything more
of Mr.. Mckinley than we would of the
average machine Republican. He is pro-
bably no worse and no better than the
average Republican. who has been legis-
lating against the South for, 10, these
many years.
OF the men known 10 have been
given places in the new Presidents Cabi-
net none has national reputation, ex-
cent Mr.. Sherman. IT may be doubted
n Mckinley was prudent I'm choosing
him as his right-hand man; but, being
.ln the hands Of his friends" the new
President probably could not do other
wise than ne did.
Mr.. Sherman is masterfui man in his
way. and will expect TO have potential
voice In the administration. II Sherman
and Hanna can manage 10 work In con-
cert. they Will run" the machine.
But, in case they disagree, Mr. McKin-
ley will be pulled first one way and then
the other, and his life be made miserable.
Most politicians think Mckinley made
a mistake I'm taking sherman into his
Cabinet. So too. II seems TO us; but ''it
Is none OF our funeral" IL Is a Republ'-
can administration. and we expect II 10
be managed as Republican administra-
fions usually are-for the benefit OF the
protected manufacturer. the Wali-streei
spectators, the pensioners. etc. etc.
We fear that the South will not find anyi
thing more TO admire in II than they
did In Harrison's, sArthurs, Garncld's
Hayess, and Grants. All the advice