Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-13
WHY ARE THINGS TMusLY.

When you pick up a Republican paper
these days, you are sure to see, either
in the editorial columns or Geographic
headlines a statement to the effect that
the Republican majorlty in Maine is
thirty thousand, whereas only twenty
five thousand was expected. But you
never see any explanation as to why
the expected majority was only twenty
five thousand. Instead of that, you are
confronted with assurances meant to
be comforting that the party did very
well, that much more was accomplished
than had been hoped for. and that,
therefore, all is we'll 1t will be remem-
bered the same thing was said in the
case of Vermont
These assurances of satisfaction are
not sincere. How can they be? They
are not honest, and every thinking man
knows they are not. Nobody is deceiv-
ed by the Republican pretense of salts
faction. Mr.. Mckinley carried Yer
mont four years ago by majority of
1890. His majority in Maine was 49,
377. If the Mckinley administration
during the past three and one-half years
has been the beneficent and popular
thing Republican papers allege, a CRATE
full and admiring people should have
rallied as never before to the support of
Republican State tickets in a Presiden-
tial year, with the author of these good
and perfect gifts again before them for
reelection, and rolled up an unprece-
dented majority, merely as a guarantee
of appreciation of benefits bestowed.
But, and the thought must carry sad
ness beyond ordinary comprehension to
the heart of every Republican boss, the
people have failed to respond. Instead
publican losses. and very heavy ones at
that. Instead of the Democratic vote
falling off, it has increased about TWEEN
ty per cent In other words, the people
distinctly decline to be charmed by the
siren song eminating daily from the
White House, or be lulled into acquieS-
ence in imperialism by the sweet voice
of Mark Hanna. On the contrary, they
have enough of war, of blooished, of
high taxation, of un-Amerlcanisn, of
pro-consul government OF distant col
onies, of the tramp of armed men going
off to the wars, and of daily bulletins
made up of lists of dead, and wounded
and sick. There are one hundred thou
sand men in the army at present, and
one hundred thousand families are in
daily terror of news of death to loved
ones because of McKinleylsm. There
| are six thousand men in the marine
| corps, and six thousand mothers OF
| these men know not what hour a tele-
| graph message will come saying that
| jim. or John, or Frank, or Will is dead
or i'll with fever. There are other thou
! sands in the navy,-sailiag in distant
seas, or standing beside shotted guns OF
on temporary land service, and not a
| day passes but some of these boys, who
| but for McKinleyism would be In port
at home, or on peaceful station abroad
are not stricken by bullet or sickness
And with the reelection of Mckinley
the cry will be for still more men, and
with more men will come unknown CON-
| plications with the nations, while the
people at home will have added TO their
ever present anxiety as to loved ones
| the steady burden of war tax still
maintained after two years Of alleged
peace.
The people are very sick Of this sort
Of thing, and thev wantsno more Of It
| and that is the secret Of the Republi.
| can ;oases ard the Democratic gains il