The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-21
POLITICAL.
Our Fortunate President.


1t is less than two years since Will
White House. He had little to COM
plain of as candidate. Nothing was
left undone at Chicago to make his
nomination equivalent to election. He
was scarcely more indebted to those
who placed him in the field than TO the
men who prepared the Democratic
platform. AS political citadel it was
impossible. Bryan made the best of it,
but the best was necessarily irredeem-
ably and hopelessly bad. He asked the
people to repudiate their obligations,
to violate solemn pledges made in their
behalf, to stain the honor OF the United
, States, and they most emphatically re-
kstused to do anything OF the kind.
There was scarcely plank in the plat
form which was not of decayed timber.
As a matter of fact, the whole contriv-
ance simplffed the Republican stand
ard bearers situation to such an ex-
tent that the election proper was to
great extent matter of form. There
never was any doubt that American
credit would be maintained. There
never was any doubt that the country
would pay dollar for dollar. McKin-
ley's success was assured as soon as il
was understood victory for Bryan
meant the triumph of regulators. He
was, therefore, exceptionally fortunate
NJ a candidate.
Not long after the ceremony of in
auguration it became clear that he was
hardly less fortunate as an official.
Wheels which had been stationary for
MOnths or years began to revolve
again. The tide turned. With the
restoration of at least comparative con-
hdence came rich harvests. They
were not among the results of McKin-
ley's election, but they were of infinite
service to him. 1t never rains but it
pours. A glance at the commercial
record shows how tremendous was the
change. During the fiscal year ending
with last June we received from
abroad six hundred millions more than
We sent there as against less than
three hundred millions for the preced-
ing year. The figures represent the
balance of trade in our favor and they
are colossal. McKinley's election was
undoubtedly contribution TO the con-
aitiOns making this possible, but the
tendency is to credit an administration
with all that is good, no matter how
powerless government may be to re-
tard or facilitate. IL is certain that he
would have been held responsible for
the continuance of distress and, as it
is poor rule which does not work both
ways, little fault will be found with
those who attribute the return of pros
perity to the man at the helm. Nc
Kinley was not only nominated at the
right time, but elected at the right
time.
AS if all this were not enough, Spain
undertook to supplement it lavishly.
The war was short and sharp and de-
Cisive. Before the last shot had been
fred the President declared himself
against expansion as far as the Philip
pines. There ives quite long inter-
val between that declaration and the
time when matters reached a climax in
the capital of France. In the interval
the President saw light. He prompt.
ly withdrew his declaration. American
merchants are looking forward to the
time when China will be one of our
most profitable customers. The Philip.
pines are'one OF the stepping stones TO
the Flowerv Land. We are to keep
them. Mckinley made up his mind
that there ID such thing as being too
conservative. He called council and
the members of his cabinet also saw a
light-the change of mind was unani-
nous. A blunder that never could
have been retrieved might have been
made. Fortunately for the President
the country was quick to comprehend
and just as quick to prevent. The
President gracefully submitted to the
inevitable and, as it were in spite Of
self, he will go into history as the faith
Or of much greater America.
Things are still going McKinley's
way.
1t is long look ahead to the next
Democratic national convention, but
anticipations are inexpensive and not
necessarily without interest. The sill
Yer men will Fl ht for control. Every
indication points to another pitched
battle on the banks of Lake Michigan,
ii the delegates to the next national
convention are called to order there.
Every indication points to another kill
ing, if that can be killed which is abso-
lutely dead. Fortune showers her fav-
ors on the Brooklyn Eagle
Democratic.