Evening journal., 1900-06-21
MKINLEY'S EVENTFUL LIFE
IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE
Pen Picture of the Republican Nominee for the Presi
denCy Who Was Nominated by ACclamatOn
by Philadelphia National Convention


upon subjects connected with the hill,
and over and over again expressed in
public and in private his great admira-
tion for the assistance contributed by
his colleagues in the committee.
But 1t is fair to say that Mckinley
mastered the whole subject in Congress
in detail He has made the subject Of
protective tariff life study. Born and
reared within the sounds of the rolling
mill and beneath the smoke and flame
of furnaces, and with the full knowl-
edge of the calls of labor and the ne
cessities Of capital, he has grown up
from childhood a student of economic
questions involved in American legisla
ton, and so he brought to this task in
the Fifty-first Congress remarkable
knowledge of details and thorough
equipment for the great work devolved
upon him. Mckinley is a man Of con-
spicuous modesty. He never claimed
the exclusive authorship of this mea-
sure but it must be admitted that he
contributed more than anyone else to
the policy Of combining in a tariff law
ample provision for sufficient revenueI
to meet the expenditures of the govern
ment, and at the same time to protect
and foster impartially all domosticI
labor and production from undue com
petition with the poorly paid labor of
foreign nations.
1t is often asserted that the Mckinley
act failed providing sufficientrevenual
to support the government This is not
true, as it did furnish revenue to meet
expenditures. but IL did not provided
a surplue equal to the sinking fund for
the reduction of the public debt This
was not the fault Of Mckinley or of
the House Of Representatives, but oil
the Senate. which insisted upon reci-
procity clauses which largely reduced
the revenue provided by that act
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1892.
1t was the misfortune Of the McKin-
ley act that it took effect at the open
ing Of a presidential contest, and when
labor troubles" excited the public
mind The election of 1892 fell with
demoralizing and almost crushing
weight upon the Reublican party of the
country. The law of 1890 was every
where, by Republicans and Democrats,
denominated the Mckinley law. and
from ocean to ocean the common peo-
pie learned to so denOminate 1t.
At that time President Nc
Kinley not only did not seek
to evade the responsibility Of
his position, but frankly and openly
admitted it, and he counseled courage
and fortitude, and gave assurance Of
his strong faith in the ultimate triumph
Of the Republican party upon the very
principles which then seemed to be re-
pudiated by the people.
Addressing himself to an audience OF
discouraged Republicans in February
1898, he said:
THE Republican party values its
principles no less in defeat than in vic
tory. It holds to them after a reverse
as before. because it believes in them
and believing in them is ready to bat
tie for them. They are not espOused
for mere policy nor TO serve In a single
contest. They are set deep and strong
in the hearts OF the party and are in
! terwoven with its struggle, its life and
/ its history.
Without discouragement the great
party reahirms its allegiance 10 Repub-
lican doctrine and with mistaken con-
lfidonce seeks again the public Judgment
/ through public discussion. The defeat
of 1892 has not made Republican prin-
ciples less true nor the faith in their
ultimate triumph less firm. The party
accepts with true American spirit the
1 popular verdict and challenging the in
depreciation put upon it by political
opponents takes an appeal to the peo-
pie, whose court is always open-whose
4 right of review is never questioned.
4 The Republican party, which made
/ its first appearance in national con-
test in 1856, has lost the presidency but
three times in thirty-six years and only
D, twice since 1860. 1t has carried seven
presidential elections out Of ten since
its organization. It has more than once
witnessed an apparent concrmna-
tion Of Republican policy, swiftly and
conclusively reversed by a subsequent
and better considered popular verdict
When defeat has come IL has usual,
followed some measure Of public law d
policy where sufficient time has no
elapsed to demonstrate its wisdom anl
expediency and where the opposinl
party by reason thereof enjoyed tn
widest range OF popular prejudice ant
: exaggerated statements and misrepre
sentation."
This was the language Of a bold leade
Of public opinion. There was no trim
/ ming no hiding from responsibility, M
! shirking from the great question O
protection.
After the passage Of the tariff act @
! 1890 the country rang with the designa
tion Mckinley Law" as a term of re
proach. The man who had given hi
! name to that act when it was denoun
: ced boldly proclaimed his responsible
4 ity for it. When the tide turned in hi
I favor he heartily acknowledged the al
= OF his colleagues.
= At the close Of the Fifty-first Cor
g gress and when his services as a Cor
: gresham ended he retired witho1
leaving behind him a single enemy. an
yet he had been answering in part
! fealty and uncompromising upon ever
u question Of principle. His name becan
y linked with the great measure Of tn;
" Congress by the common voice of II
people of the whole country and by Il
world at large.
" He, shortly after his service in Coz
se gress, entered upon the campaign II
Of governor Of Ohio. He was nominate
le by acclamation in 1891 The state hs
to been carried In 1890 by the Republican
e. by very close majority. and the d-i
at in the country was against the succe
le Of the Republican party. The discussit