The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-27
The Campaign of 1900.

Patriots. par.isans, and all other de.
scnptious of men should remember thai
the Democratic party-obviously the party
Of the people against the trusts, monopo-
lies, and Administration syndicates-doee
not occupy the position before the coun-
try in 1900 that It did in 1896. Then, II
will be remembered, the Democratic party
was on the defensive. Firstly. because II
announced radical policy relating to the
currency that the dominant fnan-
cial powers of the day would not
tolerate. and fought with all the
force of their money. Secondly. because it
was In an apologize condition as to Cleve-
land and Clevelandism; although the re-
firing occupant of the White House had
done everything possible to promote the
election Of his political opponent. and had
betrayed his party and the country in
every way open to him. What Benedict
Arnold was TO Washington, Grover Cleve-
land was to the political organization that
made him what he was. and, thereby, in
nocently but surely stultified and dlsgraced
itself.
The conditions present are not what
they were four years ago. Now 1t is the
Republican and not the Democratic party
which is compelled to defend itself before
the American people.
On the fourth Of March, 1897, William
Mckinley took the oath OF Office as Chief
Magistrate. He was a man known as the
champion Of the protected monopolies, and
as a politician who had been taken up by
q syndicate representing certain interests,
for purposes Of its own. Still, those who
had known him in Washington and else
where believed him to be what is called
"a good man." and were not afraid that he
would make his high Office subservient to
the designs Of corruptionists and hooters
Then came the Spanish war, into which
Mr.. Mckinley was driven, against the in
terests and wishes of his Spanish bond
syndicate control. by the force of Demo-
cratic sentiment in Congress, supported by
The nonpartisan patriotic sentiment of the
country. It was q great opportunity for
William Mckinley II he had been a free
man, We believe that he would have util-
lied It, and would have been today ma
tional idol. He did not. because he could
HOl- AdS A1liiutc SoHSACss gave uIly
million dollars to spend in getting ready
fer hoetilfties, that minute the devil OF
Hannaism began to get in fTg work. The
golden contracts for arms, ammunition.
transports. coal. clothing, and food were
made political spoils.
There are some things which must not
be snid because Of the proper regard that
MI true Americans have for the official
dignity Of persons that the nation has put
In power. Perhaps the sentiment which
underlies this rule sometimes operates in
favor of dishonest creatures who ought to
be pilloried. In the case Of the present
Administration. its most ardent friends
must admit That great concessions have
been made by the press and people of the
country in suppressing things that, II ex-
posed, would have been scandalous and
would have accentuated an executive situa-
zion bad enough as It stands.
When We went 10 war with Spain, Presi- |
dent Mckinley had the non partisan sup |
port Of the whole nation. He might have |
reukined n and have been almost unani- |
mously reelected. as war President, II |
be had been wise, or II his dominant in |
6uence had allowed him to be true to his
priate convictions. But he was first forced