The times., 1898-12-17
SATURDAY, DECEMBER IL, 1888.
The President Arnin-

The President Again.
Something seems to have happened to
President Mckinley. There have been
times since the controversy with Spain
reached violent stage when he has
shown the courage, strength and fore
sight of great statesman. Like all frail
mortals, he was unable, however, to hold
the heights he sometimes gained, and our
admiration was tempered by disappoint-
ment. But now he has emerged from a
condition marked by the timidity of the
politician and revealed himself as a
broad-minded. big-souled, ardent Ameri-
cana President of all the country and
a determined. aggressive champion of the
highest interests of the nation and the
sentiments Of the best type OF American
patriots To the adventitious circum-
stances that must make his administra-
tion memorable he has added a spirit that
will make himself famous and forever ad-
mirable and admired. Into his blief two
years as the Chief Magistrate have been
crowded events OF Importance enough to
command the study of the future histo-
rian. and as a result of the most con-
spicuous of these. the war with Spain,
has come double opportunity-to inauS-
urate a policy of national expansion that
was the next great step in the march of
the American Republic toward its unri-
vailed destiny. ard to speak the last word
over the corpse OF sectionalism. If the
inherited fears Of expansion had not re-
strained us the occasion for cutting away
the bands of infancy that cramped the
limbs of the young giant has been lack
ing until row. This chance lost, our
progress would have been retarded for
century, and could come at last only at
the cost of inconceivab,e millions or of
wars compared with which the one just
closed must seem insignificant. To fail 10
make the fullest use OF the sentiment of
union which the revival of Americanism
in both sections of the country created
would have been to reject the best fruit
of our victory.
A shock of surprise and thrill of Joy
followed that address of President Nc
Einley in which he completed the work of
Lincoln. whose supreme thought was the
preservation of the Union and the binding
together OF all the people in a common
love of the old flag. He rose grandly to
his opportunity and spoke the exact
words that were necessary to destroy for
ever the last traces of the conflict that
ragged almost from the beginning of our
national existence, that caused so deep a
hatred and so vast and exquisite a sor-
row. Putting aside the timidity that lad
seemed to be characteristic inspired by
the greatness of his opportunity and the
magnitude of his responsibility. he ceased
TO be a President chosen by Northern
majority and became the head of the IA
tion in fact. How splendid was his
achievement, how much he towers among
the men of his party we may judge from
the hesitation of the mere politicians in
commencing 1t while the great body of
the people, sensitive to noble action, are
moved as they have not been in this gen.
Grafton. 1t is that for which the South
has yearned more than for the material
prosperity that is hers. II is a section re-
culiarly and distinctly American because
its conditions have been such as to turn
direction-to the North where it has had
its influence in modifying local habits of
thought. In the South have been preserv-
ed in more simplicity the early American
traits, and the very faults of the people
have a noble source. So they have
waited, with natural pride and self-re-
spect, for the right man to speak the
word that would create closer ties be-
tween the sections than have ever existed
1t is the supreme privilege of President
McKinley's life that he should be the
man and 1t is his best claim to undying
fame that he was equal TO it.
But on the heels of this Joyous event
comes another surprise that adds abund-
antly to the admiration President McKin-
ley has inspired AS he flung aside the
restraints of partisan politics to embrace
the Southern patriots, so he abandons
the conciliatory policy in dealing with
the un-American minority that would OBJ
struct the progress of the nation toward
full manhood. Instead or the gentle
persuasion that seemed In harmony with
his temper, they meet defiance and de-
nunciation. He has no arguments, no
touching appeals, 10 address to men OF
his own or of any party who revive the
scare cries of a long line of discredited
prophets of evil TO restrain the nation in
the hour when the opportunity of the
ages is at hand. They would have us
undo the matchless achievements of our
naval heroes and the magnificent work
of our patriot army, and in righteous
wrath the American President curses
them for the towards or self-male aliens |
they are and dares them to attempt to |
haul down the flag IN the lands where it |
has been raised by American valor. its |
red stripes enriched by tn, -t of our |
sons. Knowing he is right and backed |
by the people, he becomes himself a no. |
table warrior and an impressive. judge. |
carrying their cause nth a magnificent |
courage that must cause tiismay among |
the small souls who have no esteem for |