The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-04-06
THE ADMIRAL YIELDS.

THE ADMIRAL YIELDS.
| The country was yesterday given de-
cided political shock through the an
nouncement that Admiral Dewey had made
up his mind to become candidate for the
Presidency. The news was made public
. through dispatch from Washington to
the New York World. AT first the state
ment was not credited as authentic, but
later in the day the Admiral permitted
himself to be interviewed by all the news
paper men who called and to each he pro-
claimed the truth of the Worlds announce
ment.
Soon after Admiral Dewey's return from
Manila he gave out positive statement
that under no circumstances would he be
a candidate for the Presidency. AT that
time he undoubtedly voiced his own feel
ings in the matter He did not want to
take upon himself the cares, burdens and
responsibilities of leadership for any party.
He wanted to rest on the laurels he had
won in his brilliant and daring naval
operations in the Philippines. He was
honored of all men by the American peo-
pie for his dashing bravery and glorious
achievements, and nothing that his country
men could offer him would add single
luster to his fame or crown him with
greater honors. Dewey was content with
his lot-serenely happy in the homage paid
in thousand ways by his countrymen.
Since that time-the time that he de-
clined to permit his name to be used in
connection with the Presidency-he has
become the husband of an ambitious So
ciety woman of Washington whose burn
ing desire it is to add to her other womanly |
graces the distinction of becoming the |
first lady of the land" There is little |
doubt that the influence which Mrs. Dewey |
possesses has been an important factor in
persuadlng the Admiral to enter the arena |
of politics-to get into the whirlpool of |
treac herous stream whose current is swift |
and uncertain-and whose polluted waters |
are destined to dim (if not wholly Destroy |
the luster of his fame. 1t is to be regretted |
tn at nations hero is to become mere
partisan. 1t is sorrowful spectacle to
see Admiral Dewey submit to the mech |
anitions of others and enter into political
contest that has but disappointment in
waiting for him for the single purpose, as
every indication points his candidacy to
be, of gratifying the ambitions and desires
of Others The nation has been grateful
to Admiral Dewey; by this unfortunate
step he has surrendered himself to greedy
and grasping corterie of selfish people,
with the only result that could reasonably
follow-that of lowering him in the esti-
nation of his countrymen. Admiral Dewey,
the hero, of Manila, is not the George
Dewey, candidate for President. The
American people will honor the one; they
will pity the other.
Mr.. Dewey does not say what party he
ex poets to be taken up by. Anything.
oh Lord! anything to give me the Presi-
dency" seems to be his present position,
and it would seem that. Macawber like, he
is waiting for the wind to get in the right
ERECTION to blow him a landing place. 1t
is not reasonable to expect that the Re
ublican party will forsake President Nc
Kinley, whose administration has been
almost above criticism. and who has solidi-
fed himself with the American people to
a point that makes him lnvlnclDle IN the
approaching campaign. 1t is hardly prob
able that the Bryan organization will let
go of their idol. In fact they couldn't do
it if they wanted to- The gentleman from
Nebraska has got the nomination of his
party-or the controlling wing of it
cinched.
1t is evident that the Admiral has put to
sea without rudder to his craft, only to
be buffeted about on the wild waves of
political treachery and finally dashed to
pieces on the rocks of disappointed ambi-
ton.