Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-25
THE CHANGES OF
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.
Atlanta Constitution.

election of 900 will be over and the
people of the country viii have entered
upon another four years of business eff
fort
Standing thus within the eve OF &C
aion. ii is not DISQUALIFICATION 70 claim
that all the signs point toward the cleo
ton of Hen. w. J. Bryan as President
Of the United States.
In making such claim the Consti-
tuition neither ignores the strength of
the party in power, nor undertakes
certain weaknesses which have attach
ed to the Democratic cause. Such
position would be but playing with the
facts which a few days must make
plain, and would, in no way, add to the
prestige of a great newspaper.
Mr.. Mckinley has made good Presi-
dent. In his personality ne represents
a high type of American manhood. In
| many respects he has handled well the
reins of government during great
crisis. He has welcomed the Confeder-
ate to the White House: he has so di-
rected his appointments that Con-
federate General is now on the retired
list of the general staff of the United
States army. He is really concerned for
tie glory of the country over whose
fortunes he has been called TO preside.
In so far as his merely personal acts
have gone, Mr. Mckinley has been con-
siderate and painstaking. He recog-
nizes his plain duty in regard to ac-
quired territory, and if he had fol-
lowed the promptings of his own heart
we would to-day have no Objectionable
colonial policy to divide the ambition
of Americans.
But, unfortunately for Mr. Mckinley,
he is surrounded by men stronger than
himself, who are INSCRIPTIONS and dan
gerous. To these men the Constitution
of the country is only sheet of parch-
ment to be torn up at will, and the flag
is but cover for public plumber.
For neither one nor the other do they
care fig. They have openly announced
that commercialism is the main pur-
pose of government, instead of being
mere incident which accompanies it.
So bold and INSCRIPTIONS were they
that, entering the White House, they
overawed the President himself, and
compelled him to recall his public dec
laration of plain duty, and announce
that, for the first time in its history,
there were subjects of the flag to whom
the whole record of popular right from
the Magma Charter on down through its
American development, the Declara-
ton of Independence, was as nothing.
No longer the flag of the free citizen,
it is now the emblem under which cow
ering slaves may tremble for the right
to live.
1t means EMPIRE to the Porto Rican
and the Filipino to-day, and when the
times comes, the syndicates will not
hesitate to invade the White House for
its application at home, as they did in
Porto Rico
Fortified by possession of Office,
strengthened by greater patronage
than ever before fell to the lot Of an
Executive; enthused by the ambition
which Americans naturally feel for ex-
pansion, in common with all other
people, the shadow of empire and the
knowledge of Mr.. McKinleys weakness
in the hands of the men who control
him-all this in view, the thoughtful
citizen is alarmed for that charter of
his liberty which surpasses all other
gifts.
\ Mr.. Bryan came into the Democratic
nomination under terms which sug-
gested many weaknesses. There were
many warning bodies of citizens, all
concerned for the preservation of the
Republic, but divided on many other
subjects.
There was no doubt then, as there is
now, of the paramountancy of the main
issue, but an INSCRIPTIONS foe was GER
tSllll W IiehC Tic iitCob Va NIC iuAllOl VI
less pressing divisions, in order to di-
vide and conquer.
Then there was legacy of division
from the election preceding, not worthy
of notice in the Democratic States, but
important as the balance OF power in
some close States. The crucial hour was
that following the nomination, when
the criticism of foes had 10 be met. The
Republican press was quick to seek
profit from every apparent inconsis-
tency, and to charge upon those allying
themselves with the new movement ey-
cry form of motive.
Mr.. Bryan's indianapolis speech skill
fully centered interest in Imperialism
as the main issue, and in his campaign
since has been waging the aggressive
fight which a sound cause renders pos
sible, while the Republicans have been
thrown upon the defensive all the way
through.
The issue as it appears to-day is
briefly this:
EMPIRE OR THE REPUBLIC