The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1899-08-25
M'KINLEY'S MODESTY.
fhe Height of Absurdity Reached
by Our self-EHnctsg Ex-
ecutlye.

| Great are courage. sohriety, industry,
owe, charity, modesty. but the great
estof these is modesty. Our noble execu-
i've has of these qualities plenty. but
Of modesty he has enough to go around
bis entire cabinet il he could only in
luce the members To take some of il.
In the old days, when bashfully adj
hitting that he was really the author
Of the tariff measure which bore his
name; in aftertimes, when, hailed rs
he shining eXemplar of protection, he
stood on the floor OF congress, clad in
Ugh; gray prince Albert" "a red rose
in his lapel, his tight hand thrust into
his bosom: still later. when he depre-
Gated the ardor of worshipers who
likened him TO the great Napoleon,
agreeing blushingly that he resembled
the Corsican in brain. but ayerring that
physically ne was of larger and Slim
mcr build; still later. when, as gov
| .rnor of Ohio. he granted only under
! extreme pressure that he was the domi-
napt unity OF the republican party, and
subsequently, when he shrinkingly per-
United a bunch of enthusiastic idol
alters to pay his debts modesty has
been his chicfeSt, most charming char
lcteristic. 1t is aS much part OF our
lheayeu-boru ruler as are his gold
trimmed eyeglasses and patent leather
shoes.
The other day we were Informed that
he would not attend the New York
ceremonies of welcome to Admiral
Dewey. Men OF prominence have be-
| sought him, committees have called
upon him, the wires have tiuglsd with
messages of pleading from Goiham's
highest and best, but all to no purpose.
Why? Because he is not willing To rob
Dewey of the glory that belongs 10
h.m because he is not willing To cav
he ewes OF she multitude from Dewey
and center them on himself; because
he viii not have the people - split their
throat and dcafcn him with cheers that
should be reserved for Dtwet; be
cause be believes that, for this occa.
sion only. Dewey is entitled to the CEN
ter Of The stage. II is like him--likc our
modest, altruistic. self-abnegatiug
chesiy imperial chief.
Ills own Judgment" We are told 10y
the dispatches. "his own sense o' jus
tice and propritty, his natural inciiua- |
ton To give Dewey all of the credit that 1
is coming 10 him weighed more heavily !
H. the balance than all OF the plead |
ingS. arguments and inducements. SO |
IL was that he finally decided to r.
main quietly in Washington during the |
hubbub and turmoil of the Dewey re- |
eep,ion. The original plan Of the |
Dewey committee was for the president. |
accompanied by Vice President Ito. |
bart and the cabinet. to meet the adj. |
miral at quarantine. The idea was that |
there the president should extend to |
the admiral the thanks and greetings |
OF a grateful public. For time the
president looked upon this plan with
favor and he came near To giving IL
his sanction. But the more he thought |
over IL the more he became convinced |
hat he should do nothing that might |
dim The luster of Dewey's star"
We ask common-Sense public: |
Isn't that delicious?" and await an
Dewey, commanding an American |
squadron not especially powerful in |
weight or numbers, sailed at nighttime |
through n narrow passage, over water |
which he believed to harbor mines. and |
dared death in so doing. Beginning ac-
tion of daylight. he achieved one of the |
most complete naval victories of the |
ages. without the loss Of man. crushed |
SPANS strength in Asiatie waters.
kneiled the downfall Of that Kingdom |
and heralded To- watching world that |
the spirit OF dead Decatur lived In |
American seamen. William Mckinley. |
n republican politician. congressman
of no marked force. nm average Ohio
governor. was made president Of this
republic by the mistakes OF his oppo-
nents. In more than two years OF in
cumbency he has given a steady anI |
nnrelityed exhibition OF vacillation,
weakness, petty politics, subscrvience
TO bosses, Difference to incompetent
and an inexcusablc desire
TO harbor. defend and protect rascals.
Yet he fears that his presence will
Dim the luster Of Dewey's star!" The
ibsurd could no further go.-Chicago
-hrupicle