The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-24
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
A Typical American of Wide Experience Who
Has Become Masterfu1 President


NITE presidency of the United States derives
its influence from the suIrages OF sO,Ooo,-
n 900 free people Its occupants are elected
for short term, and in cases where I'm.
portant national policies undertaken by
AN administration, the time is too lin
tied for the full test of their wisdom
and the complete recognition of their
value desired by those who have at heart the in
tcrests Of the country. But, in even so short
times as four years there may be crowded the SO.
luton OF problems so momentous as not only TO
call for the critical judgln"nr and dispasslonatc
estimate Of our citizens, but 10 engage the atten.
tion Of the civilized world.
The administration Of william Mckinley has
been one of the most important in the lite OF the
republic. Taxing office in time OF general ia.
duStral depression, with the VeNed questions "
finance and tariff still under discussion and
pressing for settlement, his assumption of his
new duties was cause for anxiety the part O.
those who had opposed the doctrines OF the Re.
publican party, and for the most sincere con.
Gratulations and enthusiastic hopefulness from
his political associates and from those who, cast.
ing aside party ties, had supported the candi.
date standing for sound money and protective
tariff Men often become great by embracing
an opportunity presented for accomplishing ben.
cfCent results for people. Opportunity and
responsibility will draw out the best that is IN
u
the right kind Our great men have come from
the people, and have been equal to great emer.
gencies. American history is full of such exam.
pies. The highest places in the republic have
been sought and won by those whose beginnings
were the lowiiest, and in times Of national
emergency the people have, with unerring judy
ment, made wise selections for their public Serv.
ants. Following the Civil war came the days Of
reconstruction. Troublesome questions which are
yet with us were then the cause Of bitterness and
discomfort, but for several administrations the
problems confronting the government Of the
United States were largely those OF domestic
| affairs and did not call for wide acquaintance
with international conditions, nor did they en-.
large the field of craftsmanship, as in the time
Of President Cleveland and his successor. In
ternational questions, like the adjustment OF 81.
moan affairs, ard now and then inSiscnce upon
redress for an American citizen maltreated or in.
jured in his property rights, called for little
more than ordinary routine of intens tional in.
tervourse. During the latter part OF Mr.. Cleve
lands second administration, however, the threat
ening conditions in the Island of Cuba gave init.
nation that the country would have to meet, at
no distant date, questions designed TO bring it
into the arena Of world politics, and requiring
the attention OF its ableSt statesmen. The United
States has been, since its foundation a liberty
loving nation. II was knit together more firmly
| as such by the great fraternal struggle OF the
had passed the spirit OF liberty emerged bright.
| er and steadier. TO become more and more the
spirit Of the nation.
II was not Of our seeking that through abhor.
renee of conditions in Cuba we entered upon the
| conflict with Spain. During the latter part of
| Mr. Cleveland's administration he properly eX.
| erted every honorable resource to prevent war.
His able secretary of state seconded him in this
| patriotic American policy Bat events, crowding
one another rapidly, bade fair time and time
again to sweep aside the conservatism with which
! the question was handled. This condition Of
, great unrest and danger confronted William Nc.
| kinley when he assumed the presidency on March
| 4, 1897. From the day he entered the white
house he that it would take all the resources
| Of the government TO prevent war with Spain,
| and while he employed every resort of diplomacy
and was frequently encouraged to hope that a
peaceful solution of the problem would be
| found, the increasing difficulties experienced by
| spain in Cuba brought the crisis constantly
| nearer. Public clamor breaks out unthinkingly
| at such times. 1t is not that the people are at
| heart unreasonable, for they are not But they
are generous in their sympathies, they are
| touched to the quick by needless suffering, by
| cruel oppression, by pllage, outrage and muir
| der and with the contrast between their own
| happy conditions and the unfortunate plight of
| their neighbors constantly before them, il was
not strange that the cry grew louder that a stop
| must be put 10 the warfare in Cuba, and that
the simple Justice which the people Of that island
| sought from their mother country must bS
| speedily accorded TO them or that TO them must
| be given in some form the freedom for which
| in the past they had so frequently fought and
died,
| weak man in such a crisis would have been
| bewildered. Domestic matters Of grave moment
| pressed upon every hand, There were unsettled
| the questions Of tariff and finance, and scores Of
| other subjects of internal policy required imme.
diste attention, not only in justice TO those whose
sutfrages had placed the administration in power,
but for its own good name, that at the end Of its
| term OF office it might give a worthy account Of
its stewardship. A weak man would have accept
| ed peace at any price prompt war at the be,
hest of clamoring public. 1t is well not to for
| get the temper Of the public mind at this time
| The press teemed with bitter denuncation OF the
| Spanish tyranny in Cuba; the demand for instant
| recognition OF independence or for intervention
| was emphatic; the halls OF congress ran with
| appeals to prejudice and partisan feeling, ana
| then, when all this was at It's height, came the
| tenible calamity in the haIbor OF Havana. 4
weak man would have taken the easy alternative
| and yielded with much show OF reason to the
| almost universal cry for vengeance. No greater
| test has come TO any public man in the his
| tory of this country than 10 the president during
| these days. Through IL all the man IN the
| white house kept his head He comes Of Scotch
Irish parentage; good stock. The women OF tina,
stock are model housewives, The men are steady
| selfTeant Godiearing, peace loving; they think
| for themselves; when they are assaled they take
I frmer grip on things He had been educated
in the common Schools and had been before the
| people for a generation in the various walks o
| pUslie employment where men come 10 know and