Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-21
TURNING HANNA DOWN.

TheACharieston CIV. Va Gazette, in no
ticing the reassertion of Hannaism In the
matter of shaping the policy OF the ad-
ministration, says that many people who
entertain no great admiration for Presi-
dent Mckinley will nevertheless regret
that the return of peace has subjected
him once moro 10 the domination Of the
man Hanna The Gazette SAYS, further,
that the presumption by Hanna Of his
attitude OF ''boss OF the administration"
presents a painful and humiliating spec
tacle 10 all Americans. and declares that
The President owes it to the nation and
to himself. to assert his manhood and the
dignity of his Office by turning Hanna
down.
"'Tis true. tits true, tits pity;
And pity, tits, tits true
that the Gazette has not overdrawn the
picture. A painful and humiliating spec
tacle, indeed A large part of the Ameri-
can people had thought, as the Gazette
indioases 1t thought, that the war had en-
abled the President to emancipate him
self in great measure from the influence
OF Hanna In fact, considering Hanna's
views some of Mr.. McKinley's outgivings
regarding the presidential policy read al
most like declarations of independence
of Hannaism, and led many OF the Presi-
dents political enemies TO think better
Of him and wish him well, in spite
of themselves. Nor is that all. 1t
really seemed at one time that the Presi-
dent believed he could, and was honestly
struggling to, rise above Hannaism. But
the sequel has proved most disappoint-
ing. and only serves TO emphasize the
public sense OF humiliation. Recent de-
yelopments show that the chain Of Han
naism, though clankless temporarily,
must still have bound the President.
Hanna's retirement to the background
Was. II now appears, only for the purpose
" forging that chain more securely about
The administration, and he energies with
, firmer grip upon the end of the chain
than ever before. While American SOL
-diers were undergoing the horrors of the
Santiago campaign. Hanna was quietly
working day and night to put himself In
position 20 direct the post-bellum policy
NJ the administration and the Republican
marty. and to start this country, IL pos
sible. on q career that will endanSer the
very foundations of the republic. do vio-
lence to the solemn assurance we gave
as 70 our object In engaging In war with
Spain. and fasten oppressive taxation
upon the masses for years to come. And
20 this end his work has shown forth
here in Virginia, as witness his efforts
TO bring about harmony in the ranks OF
the Virginia Republicans. Moreover
Judging the future by the past. it is
destined TO show forth in another way
before cur congressional campaign is
oyer-destined TO show forth through
financial agents.
Yes. The spectacle-or. rather. the sit
uation-is a painful and humiliating one.
In truth:
"'Tis true, tits true, tits pity;
And pity. It's. It's true"
that the President does not turn Hanna
down. But he cannot. Hanna turned him
up. There's the rub. Hanna has mort
gage on the Presidents gratitude which
the latter cannot lift be he never so de-
srous OF so doing. Hanna knows 1t, and
Will continue 10 collect inexorably the In
terest in the shape Of power, and TO APP
ply that interest TO the furtherance Of
Hannasm in ali that implies. The only
way 10 turn down Hanna and shut out
the painful and humiliating spectacle is
20 turn down the Republican party. and
the American people cannot do better for
themselves. or reflect greater credit upon
the national name than by commencing
the turning down. process In the Noyem-
Der elections.