The sun., 1900-06-20
The Third Chapter OF Mckinley.

During the campaign for Mr.. MCKINLEY's
nomination in 1895 he was styled by his
supporters the Advance Agent Of Pros
perity. This title. We believe. was evolved
from the ingenious inner consciousness Of
the late Major HANDY. It was very fetch
ing. and 1t effectively aided the efforts Of Mr.
HANNA to control the ST. Louis convention.
Moreover. nobody can say now that the
phrase In question held out to the country
Q promise which has not been fulfilled.
MCKINLEY was In fact the advance agent
Of the prosperity with which this nation is
now blessed.
Mr.. MCKINLEY was an available and sue
cessful candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation four years ago for no other reason
than that his name had become identified in
the public mind with the policy OF protec-
ton. HAYNA's genius discerned the oppor-
tunity. MCKINLEY stood for a tariff that
IL framed not merely to produce revenue
but avowedly to foster and benefit Ameri-
can industries. He was the author Of the
bill that carried this theory further In
practice than any previous legislation.
He had practically no other title to
political fame. He had been continu-
ously and consistently the champion Of
a single idea, protection: and even his
friends IN the House or elsewhere were not
then too sure that there was room in his in
tellectuals for the mastery OF other ques-
tons Of national or international impor-
tance His very first speech In Congress. In
the summer Of 1873. was devoted to an ex-
position OF the elementary principles Of pro-
tectionist doctrine. 1t was practically the
same speech which he delivered afterward
over and over again during the years Of the
period when Free Trade, with CLEVELAND
as It's main stay kept this issue at the front.
This original speech on protection was
elementary. but it was likewise sound
and earnest. II contained passages Of def
nition and declaration which might well
nyure to-day, without the change Of a
single word, in the Republican platform as
the party's creed in 1900; that is, II changed
political conditions had not rendered super
huous at present any extended dissertation
on that theme.
The first chapter Of Mckinney was Pro-
lection. and ne plus ultra: Protection nomi-
mated him at st. Louis
II was not Protection that elected him
however; the issue scarcely appeared in the
memorable canvass Of 1885, Notwthstand-
ing the desire and purpose Of the men who
had managed the successful canvass for
MCKINLEY's nomination. notwithstanding
the uncertain and unsatisfactory character
Of his own previous record on the financial
question. the Republican candidate found
himself. almost in spite Of himself. the
champion Of the honest dollar. that
Is to say Of the gold standard. against
the plotters OF public and private
Reputation. MCKINLEY ran for Presiden,
as the Advance Agent Of Prosperity. but
not In the sense originally contemplated
The danger Of any unsettement OF the tariff
any abandonment Of the American policy
Of protection. became secondary when the
revolution In the Democracy buried CLEvE.
LAND and the free traders and forced to the
front new and supremely urgent issues
The national prosperity which Mr.. McKIS
LEY's election was destined to herald ant
safeguard sprang mainly from the assuranc,
thereby OF an honest financial policy anc
the safety Of established interests from
socialistc attack.
Mr.. MCKINLEY was elected for his frs
term not as the peculiar champion Of Pro.
lection, but as the defender Of the honest
dollar. the gold standard. the nations
financial honor. and the ideas and institu
tions Of Government which the Chicago pro-
gramme menaced That was the seconC
chapter Of MCKINLEY.
Now he stands before the country ir
yet another aspect. Events which hi
could neither foresee nor control hav,
made him the representative figure anc
the responsible leader in a new anc
wonderful movement in Americas prog
ress. His Administration fought to bril-
liant end the first foreign war in which
the Government had been engaged fo
half century. IL emancipated Cuba an,
put Spain forever outside of the westerI
AemispherS. 1t annexed Hawaii ans