The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-10-19
PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE.

significant as was his address at
Omaha. That address was magnIf-
cent specimen of patriotic eloquence.
The language reflected the matured
thought of a man of affairs dealing
with questions of statecraft as full of
ueaning to the governments of Eu-
rope as to the people of Omaha. The
president knew that his every word
would be weighed carefully in this
country and abroad, and he enunci-
ated the principles of the Mckinley
doctrine so clearly that none could
misunderstood them. He followed
the same line of thought in his I'M
promptu speeches in Iowa, emphasiz-
ing the need of new markets, and
dwelling upon the fact that commerce
follows the flag. Every word the
president uttered in Iowa was in
keeping with what he said more care
fully and definitely at Omaha.
In his journey through the West
the president has given much to the
American people,; he has received
also much from them. He has had a
rare opportunity to get in closer
touch with popular feeling, and the
people have helped him improve it.
At Washington the presidents asso-I
citation is largely with professional
politicians. Congressman frequently
get warped conceptions of public
sentiment in the long periods of ab-
sence from their constituents. They
have shown in the last year that they
are apt only too often to present to
the chief executive false ideas of the
hopes and ambitions cherished by
the voters in far distant states. With
the president himself in contact with
the people, however, there is no
chance of such misapprehensions or
deceptions. From the reports all
along the line of Mr.. McKinley's
route it is perfectly plain that he en-
countered on all sides strong, popu-
lar demand for expansion. The
audiences listened approvingly to
what he said of the better times and
kindred topics, but their enthusiasm
was reserved for the illusions which |
gave assurance that the territory re-
Gently brought within our grasp
would be retained. After such an !
experience Mr.. Mckinley cannot but
carry back to Washington with him
a clearer perception of what the
American people wish and q firmer
determination that they shall not be
The demonstration of public opin-
ion regarding expansion could not
have been given the president under
more convincing circumstances.
Neither of the two senators nor one
of the eleven congressman from Iowa
has come forward as champion of
Not one of them all
has agirated at home in favor of ter
ritorial acquisition. The popular de-
mand for retaining in peace all that
we have fairly gained in war re-
quired and received no special en-
couragement. 1t sprang up spon-
taneously in the soil of general in
telligence, common sense, ,and patriot
ism.
II is matter of great good fortune
TO the Republican party in Iowa that
the presidential trip has brought the
policy of expansion into special
as a Republican issue.
Nor will the benefit be confined to
that state. The same impulse is
needed in Illinois that Mr.. Mckinley
gave to the Republican campaign in
Iowa. 1t is to be hoped that the en-
tire return itinerary of the presiden-
tial party will be so planned that
wherever the president goes the peo-
pie will have the same opportunities
10 give him their opinions and to re-
seiVe his The more oenerallv fhis