Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-04
HANNA AS A PARAMOUNT
ISSUE.

SOS Inere are Some tHlLSS iloie ihiPoAN7
ant than political issues. There are
some sentiments in every we'll ordered
mind stronger than attachment to
party. One of the things that is more
important than political issues is that
the standard of our public men shall
not be lowered; that there shall not
be set before the country the example
of men succeeding to high places,
whose quality and fibre is SO coarse
that their success shall brand fine in
stincts and distinguished abilities as
non-essentials in our public men of the
highest rank. One of the sentiments
that IS stronger than attachment to
party is that which demands that the
men who are put forward before the
world as our representatives shall not
shame us in its eyes by a swinish dis
regard of courtesy and Of decency.
The Virginian-Pilot cannot but be-
lieve. therefore, that the career of Mark
Hanna as q campaigner, his apish
frenzy and his brutal blackguardism,
has revolted the better class of Ameri-
can citizens regardless of party. Until
lie took the stump in this campaign.
we had always been of the opinion that
MIR. Hanna was not as bad as he was
painted. He has demonstrated that his
worst enemies have never used pigment
black enough. A man of Hanna's
stamp to be a President maker. in con-
troll of the policies of a victorious
political party. Hanna in any place so
exalted. though his party had the Ten
Commandments for Il platform, would
be a moral menace. an intellectual
affront. a national disaster. To Undue
the young men of this country with
the idea that the qualities of mind and
heart that Mr.. Hanna has displayed,
may command SO high a measure of
success would be worse for the country
than the worst financial panic that has
figured in Republican prophecies.
In speech at Warsaw, Ind, after
using the phrase, the steer whose
name is Bryan" he closed with this
statesmanlike outburst:
Everything on our side appeals to
all the sentiments of patriotism in
America. 1t calls for vote of conf
dence in the administration. n vote of
confidence in our President, who has
preserved The dignity of the nation
Now that we have taken our place
among the lighting nations, shall we
turn our back to the glory of our SOL
diers and sailors; shall we shut our
eyes and blindly follow that steer?
God forbid"
And this is the man whose voice
carries furthest in Republican councils;
who 1,nc ia
publicanism should mean; who ii is
proposed. shall for four years more be
the exponent of Americanism, inter-
preting it for 100000 people. 1t will
be noted that in the extract given
above. Mr.. Hanna boldly avows his
allegiance to militarism. 1--WE have"
he says. taken our place among the
nations" We can't be a fight
ing nation, as the term is now used,
without the mlitarsIn that goes with
the role. The proposition. therefore, is
that this nation shall begin career OF
blood and tyranny to be directed by
the craftsmanship of Hon. Mark Han
ma and inspired and justified by his
eloquent tongue. Rather than this, 1t
ii"d 'SS' 'e''St iitiu 'eoi &c Washing
ton surrendered before Valley Forge;
had the signers of the Declaration OF
Independence been deported, and the
country remained a part of the British
Empire, thus enabling its people to
practice conquest and robbery without
being also hypocrites; to steal the
chattcls of weaker peoples in accord
ance with n long series of monarchical
precedents. and to have respectable
ity. (?) If not honesty. in its rulers.