The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-04

the millions who were ground between
the upper and the neither millstones Of
adversely in that dismal interval after
the collapse of 1893 know that it has TAX
en- place. They are not inquisitive as to
how it came to pass. What they desire
is its continuance
As soon as the farmer has a bank ac-
count he ceases to be interested in abb
stract questions of finance. The capacity
to draw a check makes him conservative.
The artisan who ownes his home and
has constant occupation at living wages
thinks less of communism and the redis-
tribution Of the assets of society.
Such condition, while conducive to
tranquility and happiness, is not favor
able to reform. A people contented and
prosperous become inert and passively
submit to wrongs that it is more difficult
to resist than to endure. For this reason
the encroachment of monopolies is now
insidiously destroying competition and
opportunity in every department of COM
mercial and industrial activity Even the
newspapers, usually so prompt and vigor-
Gus 10 resent inffiustice and oppression,
submit to the eXtortions of the trust
which has recently so enormously in
creased the price of paper, almost with
ont murmur of protest. With combined
effort they could wiring the necks of these
maiefactors and throw their carcasses on
the compost heap Of mammon, where they
belong, This trust levies its blackmail on
education and religion on the school book
and the Bible, on knowledge, literature
and libraries, on free thought and a free
rrro; aL,
ians of liberty
OF all the unforgiven crimes Of the mon
ey power this is the most indefensible and
infamous. If the Republican party does
not strangle these monsters it is certain
that some other party will.
The Presidents career from the begin
ming is a striking illustration Of the i'm
mense value Of pure, high, stainless per-
sonal character as an element of success
in public life. He wears the triple armor
Of him who hath his quarrel just. He
has escaped calumny.
All our recent Presidents with one ex-
ception, have been reputable enough, but
Mckinley has been more than this-he
has lived up to his ideals. He has made
the golden rule the law of his conduct,
He has been loyal to his home, faithful
to his friends, magnanimous to his ad-
versaries, constant in his devotion to
duty. He has paid his tithes of anise,
mint and cummin; he has not ommitted
the weightier matters of the law.
His defects and limitations are recog-
nized, but no one doubts his ltAtriotism,
his sincerity his determination to do the
right, his love of justice He is safe and
sane; planet and not a meteor His OPP
ponents respect him, and the people, re-
gardless of party, honor and trust him.
Even caricature, the Roentgen ray of
satire, which brings the hidden and Sc
cret infirmities of character to the sur
face; has discovered no flaws, and the
lampooners have fallen back on the
schoolboy irony of depicting him as the
marionette in Punch and Judy show
that moves as the strings are pulled by
stronger men, which scarce provokes a
smile.
This faith and confidence of the people
have been shield to the President in
many emergencies where hem light other
wise have been vulnerable.
The Spanish war was not a party oues-
ton. 1t was the peoples war They
knew the President was opposed to it.
He desired to avoid blood, and so he
sought peaceable settlement; but his
motives were never impugned,a nd Con-
gress gave him fifty millions to prepare |
for the conflict. No war of modern times |
has been followed by more momentous |
and none, on land, has |
been less prolific in heroes or glory. The |
private soldier fought magnificently, as
American soldiers always do, but Shaft |
er's hammock and blackboard campaign,
and his purpose to retreat at Santiago;
the horrors of Montauk, the Egan cpl
5ode, the eccentric contracts of Alger are
matters to which the historian will revert
neither with pleasure nor pride But no
one holds the President responsible.
Still less viii they believe that because
Of mats to learn their wishes he is in
firm Of purpose, or that he proposes to
overthrow constitutional liberty and set
up an empire on the ruins of the Repub-
ia
Political issues like poest, are born not
made. They are organic and not invented
they are not kept in stock like canned
goods in a grocery nor hand-me-downs in
| Hebrew misft parlor.
The Republicans hold the affirmative on
very great question before the American
people. They have redeemed their pledges
md are not encountered with ancient
platforms. They will ren0minate Presi-
lent Mckinley, as the Democrats will
dominate Mr.. Bryan. by reclamation. One
viii stand on a declaration Of principles
or 1900; the other on the Chicago plat
orm with codicies and postscripts drawn
rom grabbag. reaffirming undying hos
ihty to government by injunction. which
5 a nightmare; to Imperialism, which is
chimera, and to the gold standard
which is the corner stone of the financial
ystem of the world.
Standing at the gate way Of the fourth !,
ear of his administration, the President | ,
nd his party have ample grounds for
ongra tulation, both in the prospect and
he retrospect.