The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-08
Three Years Of
William M'Kinley

THE most extraordinary phenomenon
of President McKinley's admins
tration Is the subsistence OF social
dlscontent. The threatening flood of
unrest and exasperation born of mis-
fortune and adversely, which culmn-
ated in the nomination of Bryan, ebbed
with his defeat. Socialism, cOmmun-
ism, cheap money and the other drift
wood, rubbish and debris of that de-
ploruble epoch, like the refuse Of an in
undation. now lie stranded and decay
ing on the shore, or were swept into
the sea OF oblivion, and the stream of
national affairs flows undisturbed In its
accustomed channel. Coxey's noble
army of martyrs has been mustered
out The occupation Of Debs, Herr
Most and other apostles Of anarchy.
preachers of pessimism, acolytes of de-
spair, is gone. Their crazy rant that
once excited mobs to uncomfortable
frenzy will now be heard with amuse-
ment or contempt. Demagogues are out
Of u job.
Something has scattered plenty DER a
smiling land. Employment is abund-
ant and wages rise. Agriculture en-
barrasses the farmers with its riches
and burdens the fleets of the world with
its abundance. Commerce thrives be-
yond precedent. Manufactures multiply
and replenish the earth. From Cape
Nome to Puerto Rico, from Manila to
Maine, forges blaze. stacks smoke.
wheels revolve, spindles hum, and elec-
trio lights turn night into day. 1t as
an illuminated chapter from the ro-
nance Of prosperity. Even the per
capita. that mysterious and menacing
spectre whose shadow has so often
darkened the feast, has increased from
S22.47 when Mckinley was inaugurated
to $25.42 at the close of the third year
Of his administration most rapid
growth of money in circulation in our
history, and very largely in gold.
Whether this prodigiOus change is due
wholly or in part, or not at all, to the
policy Of the administration is i'm
material. 1t has happened. 1t may be
cause and effect, or 1t may be coinci-
dence: but 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 1t has taken place. They
are not inquisitive as to how 1t came to
pass. What they desire is its continu-
ance.
AS soon as the farmer has a bank
account he ceases to be interested in
abstract questions of finance. The
capacity to draw a check makes him
conservative. The artisan who owns
his home and has constant occupation
at living wages thinks less of COM
munism and the redistribution Of the
assets of society. Such a condition.
while conducive to tranquility and
happiness, is not favorable to reform.
A people contented and prosperous be-
come inert and pass:vely submit to
wrongs that it is more difficult to re-
sist than to endure. For this rea-
son the encroachment of monopolies
Is now insidiously destroying competi-
ton and opportunity in every depart
ment Of commercial and industrial ac-
tivity. Even the newspapers, usually
so prompt and vigorous to resent in
justice and oppression, submit to the
eXtortions of the trust which has re-
Gently so enormously increased the
price Of paper, almost without a mur-
mur Of protest. With combined eff
fort they could wiring the necks Of
these malefactors and throw their car
casses on the compost heap of man,
mon, where they belong. This trust
levies it's blackmail on education and
religion, on the school book and the
Bible, on knowledge, literature and
libraries. on free thought and free
press, which are the sentinels and
guardians Of liberty. OF all the un-
forgiven crimes of the money power
this is the most indefensible and in
famous. If the Republican party does
not strangle these monsters it Is cer-
tain that some other party will.
The presidents career from the be-
ginning is a striking illustration of the
immense value of pure, high, stainless
personal character as an element of
success in public life. He wears the
triple armor of him who hath his
quarrel just. He has escaped calum-
ny. All our recent presidents. with
one exception, 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, mag
unanimous to his adversaries, constant
in his devotion to duty. He has paid
his tithes of anise, mint and cummin;
he has not omitted the weightier mat
ters Of the law. His defects and linn
itations are recognized. but no one
doubts his patriotism. his sincerity,
his determinati tion to do right, his love
of justice. He is safe and sane;
planet and not meteor. His oppon-
ents 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
secret infirmities of character to the
surface, has discovered no flaws, and
the lampooners have fallen back on
the schoolbOy irony of depicting him
as the marionette in a Punch and
Judy show that moves as the strings
are pulled by stronger men, which
scarce provokes smile. This faith
and confidence of the people have been
shield to the president in many
emergencies where he might otherwise
have been vulnerable.
o.
The Spanish war was not a party
question. 1t was the peoples war.
They knew the president was opposed
to it. He desired TO avoid blood, and
SO he sought a peaceable settlement;
but his motives were never impunged,
and congress gave him fifty millions
to prepare for the conflict. No war
Of modern times has beeen followed by
more momentous consequences, and
none. on land, has been less prolific
in heroes or glory. The private soldier
fought magnificently, as American SOL
diers always do but Skaters ham
h,n