The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-14
Seedsnlen
Small, Comfort Fer Mckinley
The Bsltimore Sun SAYS:

Small. Comfort Fer Mckinley.
The Bslumore Sun says:
Prior to Tuesdays election it was
generally conceded that the popular
Interest in the result oentered mainly
upon that 10 four States Maryland.
OHIO, Kentucky aud Nebraska In
all the other States 10 which elections
were to be held the result was ac-
ctpted as a foregone conclusion, aud
has occssioued, therefore, no sur
prise. The significance of the result
in the four States named is subject
Of speculation, and is viewed differ
emily, according to the political bias
and standpoint Of the observer. Thus
10 London we read that the news
papers unsnimously' regard Nc
1 Kinley's election to second Presl
/ Dental term as assured by Tuesdays
elections, aud there can be no doubt
that in London the wish is father to
the thought. England is naturally
imperiallst and in sympathy with
/ Me-. McKinley's foreign policy. She
IS engaged in pressing her schemes
/ for the extension of her empire in
Asia and in Africa. At war herself,
/ in furiherauce of those schemes, she
| is well pleased 10 see Us similarly
occupied IN the Philippines. 1t is
not simp!y the case Of the fox who,
having lost his tail, wishes to be con
sidered Ls settirg the fashion for
others to follow. Great Britain hopes
to ind in President Mckinley an
alder and sbettor in plans for further
territorial expansion-an ally IN
| future possible wars.
Thus the London Daily CEscn;clo
halls with pleasure the Presidents
" bold development of imperislist
policy in China" and says, this is
the sort of courage which commands
success it seems almost iucoDceiv-
able that be Mckinley should fail
to secure reelection" The London
News says " President Mckinley will
now have a free hand in the Philip.
pines,n and speaks of the election as
giving him "a renewed lease OF pub
lie confidence" All this may sound
very we'll, coming from Mr. McKin-
ley's English sympsthzers with his
policy of land grabbing, rapine and
conquest, but American observers
will look 10 vain TO find in the result
of Tuesdays elections any such IN
dorsement of that policy or " renewed
lease of public confidence" as the
London papers appear to have dis
covered.
Even 10 Ohio, the Presidents own
State, the result is far from justifying
any such Interpretation. a majority
OF 10000 over all other candidates
might mean something. Bat a simple
plurality of 80 900 in favor of Judge
Nash over Mr.. John R. Mclean, with
an estimated vote of 100000 for the
Golden Rule" candidate, Mayor
Jones, of Toledo, would mean an
actual majority Of $4,000 votes
against the Administration. Ex-
Secretary Sherman, far more
competent Judge of Ohio politics than
sny London editor. a far wiser and
sbler statesman and more experienced
politician than Mckinley, in an
interview published in Thursdays
Sun, does not find in the result IN
Ohio either an Endorsement or
reputation of the Administration"
He attributes Nash's victory largely
to his personal popularity and " falls
to see where the Administration can
find any grounds for constituting the
result as an Endorsement Of its policy
iu the Philippines" In reply to the
direct question, " Do you think the
result in Ohio presages the renomina'
ton Of President Mckinley ~ the
veteran Ohio stateman replies 1
cannot say. That is an event almost
year off, and it would be impossible
to predict anything as to the result
of the next nominating convention 80
far in advance"
The result in Nebraska certainly
does not indicate the remotest llkell-
hood of any electoral votes from that
quarter in favor OF Mckinley. The
comfort which the Administration is
reported as taking from the result In
u
that State is that it strengthens the
probability Of Mr.. Bryan being again
the Democratic candidate. 1t may
be that when the time comes the
Democratic party, already admon-
ished by defeat in 1896, may remem-
ber the adage which is good in poll.
tics. as we'll as war " Never do what
your enemy wishes and hopes that
YOU will do" At all events, Tues
davis vote in this far Western State
was direct condemnation of the
Presidents policy in the Philippines
the canvass having turned much
more upon that issue than upon the
silver question.
From the result in Maryland it is
impossible for the Administration to
extract one single ray of comfort. 1t
demonstrates that this is q sound
Democratic State, and the condemns-
tion Of the Presidents policy is made
ell the more pointed by the fact that
the Republican Governor elected in
1895, before Mckinley became Presi
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