Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-08


mt. Mckinley viii do well to study
the returns of Tuesdays elections. He
VIII md them, in the ancient phrase,
useful for instruction. admonition.'
and even for "reproof.' =
"A year ago the pluralities for Mr..
mckinley in the five States of New
York, New Jersey, Massachusetts,
maryland and Ohio were more than
100000. On Tuesday as the net result
or the elections in these five States,
this enormous advantage has entirely
vanished. We need not go into de-
tails. The simple fact tells the story
or a reaction more sudden and more
violent than has ever before been
known in the politics Of the nation
since the birth Of the Republican par
ty. Never before has any Presiden-
tial leader of a party seen so nlagnifi-
cent a following dwindle so fast and
In such degree. Mr.. Mckinley will do
well frankly and humbly to ask him
self what were the causes and what
they teach as to the future.
First among the causes is this:
The Republican party under Mr.. Nc
Kinley's guidance, devoted a long ex-
ira session of Congress to tariff bill
of extreme character, which the coun-
try clearly did not demand, and
which, defended as revenue measure,
has produced only deficits. Among
the large number Of voters who sup
ported Mr.. Mckinley last year on the
issue of sound money, but who are
not protectionists, and with moderate
Republicans who see that the country
needs a removal, not a renewal, OF
tariff barriers, this was regarded as in
effect a breach of trusI While ma
tional issues were not distinctly in
yolyed in this years elections, the SEN
timent aroused by the course Of the
administration and its patty in ma
tional affairs was obviously powerful
element.
Next among the causes of the re-
action we count this: In every State
Mr.. Mckinley has recognized the Re
publican machine, and has turned over
to its boss the federal patronage Which
he has not reserved for special uses.
The result in this State shows now
that worked. The boss used his ha-
chine for a Tammany victory, drag
ged a Secretary of the Interior from
Washington to identify the admins
tration with his scheme, and The he
publican party, not only here, put
throughout the country-for all eyes
were on New York-shared the odlum
of the shameless transaction. In
MARYLAND Germans renewal OF power
was made possible by the fact mat
WELLINGTON was the alternative. in
Ohio. Hanna was the object OF con-
tempt for Democrats who acted with
him last year and of resentment from
Republicans. In addition to TINS ele-
ment of reaction was the Widespread
disgust of unsuccessful office seekers.
A half century ago Mr.. Seward sad
that the appointments were outnum-
bered tenfold by the disappointments,
and in every State where elections
were held on Tuesday the truth was
proved again. All Of which very great
and intense opposition Mr.. Mckinley
invited and would have avoided had
he insisted on making no changes not
absolutely necessary, and makins
these for the good of the service Who'll
" and not for the promotion of his
own renomination.
These are positive causes of reac-
ton. There was another as to which
Mr. McKinley's action was both mega
lively anu DOSlllNCly III iN""ASAN
al discomfort He almost wholly 1g-
nored the imperative mandate Of last
year for currency reform, and ne TOOK
conspicuous and extreme step in the
opposite direction through the Wolcott
commission. These agents OF his went
through Europe Offering the free coin
age of silver by the United states IN
return for iliusory concessions by
other governments, and the PRESIDENT
has failed to deny that he gave them
athority to do so. These two facts
have been very generally regarded as
either evidence of bad faith or as In
excusable blunders. The disapproval
they have aroused has been distinct
force in producing the reaction
So much for the past. What OF the
future? This at the very least is true.
If the administration with the party II
leads cannot win the confidence OF the
country so seriously impaired, 1t viii
lose the House next year and the Pres
idency two years later. Thai 1T can
do only by substantial measure OF
lasting currency reform. 1t has tried
an extravagant and futile tariff; it has
tried the building of machines through
patronage for the Precipitation. OF
bosses; it has tried coquetting with in
ternational bimetallism. They have
brought humiliation and disaster.
CONSITT, REPORTS