Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-19
AN ESTIMATE OF THE MAN WHO
BEAT FORAKER AND BUSHNELL.
is WRAPPED UP IN HIMSELF.
BELIEVES HIS VICTORY SAVED THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
His Senatorial Record Yet to BE Made
SO Far He Has Not Been n Fac
tor-Ins MOdestly Taken a
Back Sent and Quietly
Kept Ii.

IL came TO him as an inspiration, Senator
Hanna has contributed a quotation which
will become historic. God reigns and the
Republican party still lives will be re-
mcnbered long after the occasion whicn
called it forth has been forgotten. We Will
hear its echo in every political struggle Tor
years TO come.
The sentiment was in some degree indl-
cative OF the man. II there is one thing
in which Mark Hanna believes ii Is the
Republican party. Alteration OF his party
flows in his blood. All that is with IL is
superlative; all that is against it merits
damnation. lie has given Of his time ana
his money to advance its cause, and has
never breathed any atmosphere save that
which is impregnated with its principles.
He is OF those who would honestly look up
on defeat of the Republican party as a
menace TO the welfare of the country. En-
thusiastic, earnest, he really felt that when
his own fate had been favorably decided,
il was occasion for giving thanks even to
God.
But there is another side TO Hanna's
character, which is as plainly portrayed in
this remarkable dispatch. He is wrapped
up in himself. By saying that in his VIC
tory the Republican party has been res
cued from perdition he intimates that his
defeat would have been the end Of I'll
lieve his very thing. Nor. In the present
circumstance, was the feeling altogether
strange. He was in a position where he
stood for his party. He had been largely
responsible for the nomination of the pres
ident, he had managed the campaign which
had brought Republican victory. he was the
national chairman. and the night against
him was the expression of dissatisfaction
growing out of these very circumstances.
To have failed of election would have been
q rebuke to his methods and principles
that would have well-nigh broken his
heart. He was the target. In successfully
warding off the blows that were aimed
with such persistency and ytndictiveness,
II was quite natural that he should have
believed that he saved not only himself but
the party of which he was the chief expo
nent.
The outcome of it all is that Mark Hanna
will be seven years more in the senate.
What of his future?
The senate is a great determiner of men,
With membership Of only ninety. the in
dividual is not lost in a crowd. as in the
house. A senator Is one of two men select
ed by a state, with the right Of speech un-
abridged, with every opportunity to display
his talents. IL he possesses them. He ap-
pears before jury of eminent critics. If
he has ability, he will speedily find gener-
Gus praise accorded him. If he is weak,
negative, or mediocre, no one will find i1
out sooner than the men who sit around
HIM. They will rate him at his true worth.
Lacking the power to raise himself above
the common plane, he will soon sink into
insignificance.
Up to the present time. Senator Hanna
as the outward demonstration of ability is
concerned. He has influence, of course, be-
cause the weight of his recommendation
with the president is known to be great.
This influence, however, has not been all
powerful. He has appealed in vain more
in the formation of the tariff bill his rec. rec
concentrations were more frequently ig-
nored than adopted. Mr.. Hanna has, in
1t manifests toward a newcomer the same
SPIRIT In which boys at college treat the
se hold h he own Us 4 he sF IS abe snd
and influence; il he is a weakling, he is left
with the prestige of family name or riches.
IT is thus in the senate. Mr.. Hanna as the
assS maj fhs
cut no swath in the body TO which he came
as the successor of Senator Sherman. He
had to commence at the beginning. accept
ing, the lowest assignments on committees
and outranked by his colleague, Senator
Foraker, simply because the latter entered
1t Is to Senator Hanna'S credit that he
accepted the conditions as he found them.
He literally took back seat IN the senate
10 work his way upward in that body on
his present merit. and not upon the record
of what he has accomplished.
There is every reason to believe that Mr..
Hanna will In time, become power in
judgment and foresight. He has begun
we'll. He has demeaned himself in a sensi-
ble practical way. On the day that Mr..
Mckinley was inaugurated he did not force
himself conspicuously into the foreground,
but took seat on a distant portico. In
the senate he has followed the same
course. He has been frank and honest In
his advice when IL was asked, but he has
not forced 1t upon his colleagues. He has
not been heard in debate, perhaps because
he does not care to speak, but at the same
time his reticence, from whatever cause
has been in refreshing contrast to the tire
some volubility of other newcomers. lie
hos haIn fin h1a In
relations with him. and remarkably patient
under the tremendous pressure for places.
He has been harassed almost 10 death, but
his smile has been never falling, and even
when he has been unable to grant favor
he has never consciously inflicted a wound
OF course in his upward climb Senator
Hanna has been compelled to make step
ring stones of less forceful men. He has
pushed them aside when they were In his
path, and sometimes he has been abrupt
and severe in the action. Some men hate
him because he is successful. He has not
however any enemies in the senate. II
he continues in the future as he has done
in the past. making his way forward witr
sympathy for the feelings of Others ant
exercising no dictatorial methods. he vii
find himself growing stronger and strong
er in the regard of his colleagues. If ht
States is body of his peers and not
state legislature. where men blindiy foi
low mis- commands, he will enjoy his sena
tcrial career and will be aided materially
in making 1t "A credit to himself, beneficial
10 his state and of value to his party. If
secure in his seat. he throws diplomac,
and consideration to the winds, IL. Gallon!
as to kindly consideration, he attempts Il
he dogmatic and tyrannical. he will fnC
that he is preparing for himself a bee
o. thorns.
When the senator appeared in the senate
pit yesterday he was given warm wei