The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-07
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gaklu Ea9le
NJ, Nj. MURDOCH. Editor.
A FRIEND AND NE1GHBoR.

The profound confidence which the
nation feels in its present executive is
forcibly demonstrated by the action OF
the Democratic state convention IN
Texas. Young Mr.. Bailey, a man Of
whom the nation has expected a great
deal. and in whom the nation has been
disappointed, attempted to force
through the convention general DIS
agreement with McKinley's plans so far
as the war is concerned. The major
tty of the Democrats led by Governor
CuIberson and Ex-Governor Hogg,
nassed resolutions upholding Mckln-
ley's conduct of the war and further
more favoring the retention OF Porto
Rico. the wrestling of Cuba from Spain
and the surrender Of ownership on
the part Of this government in the PhI-
ippines. this being exactly Mckinley
position as foreshadowed by the peace
negotiations
The Texas Democrats echo the senti-
rnent Of the whole nation SO far as
President Mckinley is concerned. The
nation never had a president in whom
If had more confidence. Every man.
regardless Of his political faith, IS hrm
in the belief that Mckinley is trying TO
do the right thing. This does not mean
that every man who has this conf
dence in him will vote for him again.
or will vote the Republican ticket II
means nothing of the sort, for that
meaning would comprehend that the
nation had confidence in no one else.
Mckinley has raised himself above
the level of politics. He has reached
that enviable position of being held in
non-poIitical regard, respect and rev
erence. But the curious thing about
the confidence the whole people feel IN
him is the penalty which goes with It,
That penalty is lack Of expressed
sympathy on the part Of the nation Tor
its executive The last three months
have been pregnant with tremendous
questions. all to be settled indirectly or
directly at the White House. During
the long struggle to avoid war, II pos
sible. Mckinley carried on his Shout
ders a hundred momentous, burden
some questions, and each question was
reinforced by a thousand perpleXing
details. AS ingalls, said, during the
moot over the delay in declaring war
not one man in the United States SEN
ate rose to the presidents defence, even
Thurston. his fast friend, holding his
voice. Mckinley had no sympathy
then. During the whole war he has had
personal solicitude for everything, even
for the detail movement Of the troops
and their provisions. The people have
been sublimely confident that Mckin-
ley would turn things out in splendid
shape, but they did not think of his
worry and his crushing mental strain,
for in all newspapers and in all
speeches and IN all other machines of
public expression there has not been a
sign of solicitude for him who, Of all
men, was carrying most Of the war.
And it is the lack of this sympathy
which accents the profound and i'm
measurable confidence the people feel
in him. Every mother who has boy
in the war feels that the president per-
sonally has an eye out for that boy.
He is not to be needlessly butchered;
Re is not to be needlessly exposed. He
is to be well fed and clothed. He is to
be treated as a human being. not as
screw, bolt or nut in a mighty war en-
CINE Nearly every statesman, editor
and voter must and does confess that
at some point in the progress of the
Spanish difficulty he has differed with
Mckinley, and that time has proved
Mckinley right
This has caused public faith in him
to grow, until today it is so strong that
no one worries for fear that he may
make a mistake, or feels that he needs
aid in the shape of either advice or
sympathy.
ne Val VIII pass away A-N'i1'4t''O
subjects will again arise and we will
drift back into the old interminable
political dissensions. As the head Of a
political party, Mckinley Will then
come in for his share of rancOrous at
tack. but today every American feels
as though he individually has "a
neighbor and a friend" in the White