The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-02
Public Opinion and President Mckinley

Public Opinion and President Mckinley.
1t has sometimes happened In great po-
litical crises that q farseeinR and states
manlike President has been obliged to de-
lay the formal announcement of a progress
sive policy, in order that he might gradual
ly educate the popular sentiment into agree
ment with his desires and purposes. LIN
coLN was slow in the development of his
policy with regard to slavery, for instance,
waiting for events and obvious necessities
to bring up the public mind to . recog-
milton of its wisdom.
President MCKINLEY, however, 10 In the
fortunate position of q President who has
conducted n war In which he has had the
unanimous support and confidence of the
entire nation throughout It's course. We
say unanimous because the opposition
expressed In a few quarters and by certain
newspapers has represented only individual
cantahkerousness or pusillanimity aud
not any pervasive popular sentiment.
For the first time In our history .
war waged by the republic has re-
ceived the enthusiastic support of the
American people, without any division of
feeling among them due to sectional preju-
dices and animosities or to the asperity of
opposing political ~partisanship. Even the
war Of the Revolution itself was won in
spite of Tory indifference, positive OBJ
structlon. or actual treachery. The Next
can war provoked bitter opposition, in New
England more especially, because Of fear
that 1t would result in the particular
aggrandizement Of the system Of slavery.
The civil war was an awful contest between
two great divisions Of the country, and 10
left at Its conclusion deep-seated sores and
the curse Of long.continued sectional poll.
tics. We were a united people formally
and legally, but the essence Of spirit incon-
gruous with unity remained on both Sides.
The dominant feeling Of the one was arrayed
against that of the other. Doubt and dis
trust remained in each and the political
campaigns of nearly a whole generation
turned on the issues of the old con-
hict more or less directly. 1t was q
period of great and bitter trial for the
American Republic, during which the salu-
tary forces tending to the naturalization
of the American people were held in check.
Every dictate of interest. the very instinct
of self.preservatlon, tho natural pride of
the people in national expansion and de-
velopment commanded unity; but an appar-
emily ineradicable though really transitory
n superficial sentimento of sectional reju-
dice and resentment kept apart a people
necessarily Joined together by the very
law Of their national existence. 1t was
not reason which governed, but passion,
Jealousy, suspicion and bitter remem-
brance; yet throughout this unhappy
period the Matchmaking influences con-
tinued to operate. The very intensity of
the sectional animosity made inevitable it's
exhaustion. In spite Of all the bitterness
OF reprOach there remained the tie of
fraternity, only waiting for the time to
come when the fury of strife should
be succeeded by the Joy OF reconcilia-
tion. A foreign war brought on that day
OF reconciliation. 1t came suddenly and
unexpectedly. The period of the perversity
OF sectional politics, controlled by ugly
sentiment. was at a n end forever. Presi-
dent MCKINLEY became the President of a
thoroughly united and harmoniZed nation.
Now when complete victory has attended
the American arms there is a like con-
solldation of American sentiment as to
the use which shall be made of 1t.
A"As Nv " lOb uCCu 10 WdlI LOT
the slow development of a popular feel.
ing In support of a policy to secure in
their fulness the advantages won by
our arm in the brief but conclusive
contest. The public sentiment as to that
matter is too general, too decided, and too
emphatic In its expressions for any doubt
of what it is to exist in the White House.
1t Is not the froth of wild exultation
over triumph, but sober and reasonable
public sentiment. Its declaration has not
come from hurrah-boy assemblages, stirred
up to inconsiderate enthusiasm by the
blare of trumpets and the rolling of drums,
but from business exchanges, commercial
associations, churches and other represent
atives of the conscience and enlightened
conservatism OF the people. Instead of there
being any popular restraint upon President
MCKINLEY in carrying out a policy of ma
tional expansion commensurate with our
military and naval achieVementsI In the West
Indies and the Pacific Ocean, there Il rather
impatience at the diplomatic delays which
necessarily stand in the way OF the execu-
tion of such a policy.
Popular agitation because OF the hating
OF Congress in providing for the annexation
of Hawaii has been succeeded by general
satisfaction now that those islands are
finally American territory. Former oppo-
nents OF the measure are constrained to hold