The Saint Paul globe., 1898-02-14
The IDOLS Feet Are Clay.

Indications appear more frequently
that the prediction of a Democrat to
jubilant Republican, when the cleo
tion of 1896 set the latter to growing
over the victory, that before four
years passed Republicans would be
praying for Clevelands backbone"
will be verified. M. ]. Dowling, STILL we
believe. secretary of the league OF Re-
publican clubs, a mOribund sort Of
affair, maintaining a perfunctory exist
ence, has lost. in that closer contact
with and knowledge of Mr. Mckinley,
the president, that wild alteration
which could not see the clay feet Of
the idol, the candidate. In a-letter to
the Renville Star-Farmer. paper
whose destinies he controlled before he
quit newspaper work for the more
profitable occupation of bank presi-
dent, he says:
Scarce nine months have passed since
William Mckinley inaugurated pres
dent Of the United States, yet there are
many who fought with him aud for him
who are are now planning to dsplace him
and place in the White house one more
to their liking. as we'll as one from whom
may be expected greater results so far as
their own immediate wei are is concerned.
1t is unfortunate that the recent mes
sage of the president furnishes excuse for
the accomplishment of his downfall for
denomination in 1900 The president evil
IDENTIFY feels the deep responsibility OF his
position TO such an extent that the burden
Is pressing out of him those spendd quail
ties of character and decisive craftsmanship
his admirers thoroughly believed him in
possession of. He occupies the position
I
what is generally understood in America
to be good fellow is in. Such posi-
tion is not in the judgment of Americans
generally, one that sho:li be associated wi h
the office of president of the United
states.
Bowling still clings to the deluson
that the idol of '96 possesses those
splendid qualities of character and de-
cisive craftsmanship" and that the
burden" of "the deep responsibility of
his position" is to blame for their dis
appearance. Usually it is precisely
such a burden that brings out those
qualities. 1t did so with Arthur, who
was merely "a good fellow before an
assassin's bullet made him president
with its burden of deep responsible
possesses just as much and as many
such qualities as ever, and no more.
1t is the burden" that is compelling
the disclosure of his real qualities: Just
the same with him as it does with
every man upon whom it is placed.
The cornstalk stands as erect as the
oak until the tornado comes.
Dowling has discovered what another
writer he had seen in Mckinley, the
president 1T is positively painful"
he said, "to witness the anxiety of the
president to please every body whom
he meets" This accounts for the con-
ference after which Chandler, on the
one hand, assures the public that Nc
Kinley is a good "bimetallist," and Sec
retary Gage offers an administration
measure ito strengthen the gold stand
ard" Among the men of trade and
commerce, at the banquet table in New
York city, the president talks braveIy
for sound currency; and alone with
iC letS Hllll peiieNe lIldI ne
shares his desire for an unsound one.
1t is not conscious duplicity; it is mere
ly that, as Bowling sees, he wishes to
be "a good fellow" a~desire that stands
out in prominent contrast with the de-
sires of his predecessor. Mr. Bowling
is exceptionally accurate in saying
that the position of a good fellow
SIS not in the judgment of the Ameri-
can people, one that should be asso-