Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-12
ms roo rLATrERING UNCTION.

II is easy TO believe that which II is 10
ones interest TO believe; hence we are
not surprised to hear that Mr.. Mckinley
and his political and official associates
at washington think Tuesdays elections
were an endorsement Of them
II 20 carry States that were all along
conceded 10 the Republicans is to be
endorsed" then we must admit that
Mckinley won a great victory last week
But what sort of endorsement did he
receive in Maryland? What sort in Ken
lucky? What sort in Nebraska? What
sort, indeed, in Ohio. where money was
lavishly spent by Mr.. Hanna, and where
the President himself exerted all of his
personal influence to carry the state?
Considering all that was done TO save
Ohio to the Republicans, we think the
less they brag about their victory there
the better it will be for them. As for
Mr.. Hanna, his own county went over
whelmingly against Nash. and it is said
that Mr.. Hanna is so disguised that he
is thinking of resigning. lie may think
about il. but he will never give up that
power till he IS compelled 10 do SO.
We do not say that anything I'm last
Tuesdays elections is clearly condem-
natory of the Presidents policy. No.
Viewed as a whole and separated as far
as they can be from local and personal
issues, those contests were indecisive in
so far as they related 10 national issues.
The truth is that the issues growing
out Of the war with Spain have not yet
been made up sharply enough to admit
OF political lines being drawn closely
Nor can they be made up clearly and
distinctly until the President and Con-
gress show their hands. You may charge
them with anything you please now and
they are in a condition TO wrigele from
under. Furthermore, we do not know
their position upon the banking question,
We cannot foretell their purposes with
respect to Cuba The indications are
that with respect 10 that country the
policy will be one Of masterful inactivity.
But who knows? Again. VINO can state
the exact purposes Of the administration
with reference to the Philippine? But
after Congress meets We may hope 10 be
enlightened.
II may be that some Of the Presidents
suggestions will be accepted by every
body. But others, We doubt not, will
prove Objectionable 10 true Democrats,
and there We may expect to see the
lines Of battle drawn. For Mr.. McKin-
ley. or any Of his associates, to claim
that the country has endorsed the adj
ministration already Is untrue and alb
surd. The Presidents speeches made I'm
the West and at Richmond were couched
in such general terms that even If it
could be held that they were endorsed,
such an endorsement would not be signi-
iicant.
Though We have suspicious as to what
Will be the policies of the administration
which the President viii announce 20
Congress. we cannot be said to know"
anything. When the Presidents recon-
Inendations are down In black and white
we will know what 20 approve and what
20 dlaapprove The Democrats should
not antagonize any proposition merely
because It comes from the President;
neither ought they TO accept any obiec-
tionabie doctrine because he ad-
yances IT. It may be said that the issues
upon which the next presidential con-
test is TO be fought are foreshadowed.
but they are yet TO be defined