The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-09-01
President Mckinley and His Views.
From Harper's Weekly.

FrcSiucnt MCKINNEY anu t1iS NiSWS'
From Harpers Weekly.
l have had an interesting talk will
the President, and / shall set down
without comment or suggestion o.
opinion, and 1 trust in perfect fairness
my impressions of him, and OF his
opinions and purposes concerning the
things political which are most interest
ing to the country. 1t may be that, in
measure, l shall anticipate his next
annual message to congress, but four
months will elapse between now and
the time when he must send that
document to the legislative branch OF
the government and many events may
happen which. will make the message
that would be written today entirely
different from that which will be
written then. 1t must be borne in
mind by the readers of Harper's Weekly
that am not speaking for the Presi-
dent. He has not authorized me to say
anything. l am not quoting him. l
am simply telling my knowledge and
impressions of him and his opinions
The value that they have depends upon
the fact that they have been obtained
at first hand. They are not filtered
through a cabinet officer, or even
through private secretary.
In the first place, let us consider Mr..
Mckinley. He has been talked about
good deal, but he has been carefully
considered very little; not enough, per-
haps, by those who oppose his views,
and who would be better prepared for
their conflict with him if they would re-
fleet that he is typical American from
typical American community. am
stating fact. not intending eulogy,
leaving to the wayfarer to say whether
or not he likes these types. 1t is often
said that Mr.. Mckinley holds his Gear
to the ground" and is governed by the
voices which he thinks he hears. This
does not mean much, and it does not
accurately denote the President.
oPPoRTUNIsT AND oPTIMIsT.
Mr. Mckinley is an opportunist, and
he is an optimist. He wants to govern
the country in the way the majority
want it governed, and he generally
believes that the majority is not only
right, but has right to its own way.
This often makes him an opportunist
He is an optimist also, and believes that
the institutions of the United States are
the best that human wisdom has even
framed. He is one of a large number
of his fellow-countrymen who are
thoroughly convinced that American
rule brings happiness and prosperity to
all who have the privilege of enjoying
it. He also believes that material
prosperity is the outward sign of an
inward happiness and of sound politics,
and he is inclined to push American
prosperity to the farthest possible
bounds, endeavoring to extend it abroad
and to increase it at home. He believes
that the greater the prosperity, the
wider the opportunities and the richer
the blessings to the masses. Mr.. Nc
Kinley does not consult public opinion
for the purpose of absolutely guiding
his conduct by what he hears. He
wants to know that the country desires,
but he could not change his nature to
satisfy any voices that might come to
him, and he is too wise to try. They
might modify his policy; they would
not revolutionize 1t. Ihave known him
for quite twenty years, and during most
of that time he has firmly believed in
what is often called "Americanism,
which, being interpreted, means
American sertiveness-now ex.
pressed by tariff based on the theory
that America is self sufficient, while
again it is expansion" or Imperial
ism" which insists that the country is
capable of performing any task that it
may assume, or that it may suppose its
duty to have thrust upon it. 1t seems
to me that his opponents are guilty of
great blunder in assuming that the
President takes his policy wholly from
the voices which come to him. If he
did that, he would be oftener in panic.
than has, been the case, If ever, since
the war with Spain broke out.
THE PRESIDENT HAS A POLICY.
Mr.. Mckinley has policy, and he
does his best to impress it upon the
leaders of his party and upon congress
That is the main point; and the only