The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-05
BEING 4 PRESIDENT
There is Nothing Like it to
Develop Conservatism.
SOME CASES IN POINT
Never Better Shown Than in
the Present Crisis.

as a rule more conservative than their
congresses? For students Of our form OF
| governmen this is an interesting question,
| particularly in the present crisis, when we
have beforeus the spectacle of the legisla-
tive branch Of the government on the very
edge of revolt against the policy of de-
liberation and delay adopted by the ad-
| ministration. Nor is this revolt due to
any mere desire TO embarrass the presi-
dent, as might have been the case with
other chief executives. The tendencies
are in fact all in theother direction. Up
to this Cuban outbreak congress has done
more to make Mr.. AfcKinley's part easy
than for any other president in recent
years; the senate has confirmed substan-
TALLY all his nominations, and if the ele-
ment of personal popularity had anything
to do with the case it would all be in the
administrations favor; yet within a week
congress has become almostlready for an
instruction, and so turbulent was it on
Wednesday that, as in the legend, Col
umbus promised his sailors reurn to
Spain if land were not discovered within
three days, the president was obliged to
assure his legislative crew that he, too,
would give up his efforts if a peaceful
basis of settlement were not discovered in
a like period Of time.
It is entirely possible that this week
would have been the limit of Mr.. McKin-
ley's endurance in any event, but, how
ever that may be, congress has besieged
him day and night, clamorlng for action.
His best friends and most earnest sup
porters have led in this mutiny. Mr. Bah
cock, chairman Of the congressional cam
paign committee, with the weight of cleo
ting the Fifth-sixth house on his shoulders
has told the president that he could not
go ahead to organize for the fall cam
paign unless forcible action were taken in
regard to Cuba. Senator Thurston, who
has posed asone of the presidents S, closest
friends before and since election. has in
directly launched a shaft sqparely against
what seems to him the dilatoriness of
the administration. On all sides there is
abundant evidence that a break between
congress and the president is inevitable
unless the latter takes within a few days
an aggressive stand. In theearly part of
the week, when the president seemed to
be holding back, it was common remark
among ganeryites. Mckinley doesn't
want to run again, does hep
No one doubts that all this feeling viii
vanish; and the chances are that the very
persons who are seemingly most disguised
with the presidents policy will before
long join with his friends in according to
il the most hearty praise. But Mr.. Nc
Kinley is not the only president who has
been more conservative than his party in
congress, and so has brought down upon
his head for the time being a vast amount
of adverse criticism. Mr.. Cleveland's ex-
perience with his fellow Democrats are
too fresh in mind TO need recounting.
Even most of those friends who had fol-
lowed him in oppositionto free silver went
over to the enemy on the bill for the COIN
age Of the seignioTage, and throughout the
his support was limited to
a very small minority of his own party.
In everything except the Venezulena case,
heWas less willing than his party to yield
TO popular clamor or 10 supposed emer-
gency needs. General Grant was more con
sentative than his party on the extension
Of greenback indebtedness, although go
ing further in the matter of territorial ex-
pansion. Hayes and Arthur frequently
gave evidence of the greater sobriety
which seems TO envelop the presidential
chair.
Nor is this a characteristic of recent !
American history only. The Federalists !
said of Madison that he was so pacific |
that ne could not be kicked into a fight. |
but their activity was finally so great in /
that line that the almost unnecessary war /
Of 1872 was undertaken. The restraining |
Of Washington over his con- /
crosses is an essential part of the early |
his the public are learning to place more |
confidence in presidents than in con- |
crosses, and hence we see almost univer- |
sal approval Of such a measure as the put
ing Of S50.000000 at the disposal of Mr. /
Mckinley for the national defense. The |
public would notbe alarmed if at any time |
congress saw fit TO adjourn and leave the /
whole question OF peace and war with the /
Three reasons principally account for
his difference in attitude between the leg
slative andthe executive branches of the
government. The administration has a
much greater RESPONSE biIity. coupled with
arger knowledge; it is further removed
rom direct political considerations: and it
'epresents the country as a whole rather
han any one Of its states or congressional /