The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-09-14
McKINLEY'S CAMPAIGN
LETTER.

Mr.. McKinley's long delayed letter of
acceptance, of the nomination made three
months ago, has acquired in the interval
the proportions of Presidents annual
message, with much of its comprehensive
dullness. Il includes both an elaboration
of the Republican platform and reply to
portions of the Democratic platform. 1t
is partly congratulatory and partly apollo
CYSTIC. 1t would probably have been
shorter had it been completed sooner, and
if shorter, it might have been more effec-
tive.
The letter is intended, evidently, to fur
nish sort of campaign text book to which
Republican advocates can refer for intor-
nation and explanation. Those who are
already of the Presidents party will pro-
nounce it a very strong document; those
who look on the course of the administra-
ton with disfavor or distrust will not find
many of their fundamental objections an
swered in the Presidents elaborate plea.
He begins with ''the great issue of the
last national election quoting the decla-
rations upon silver of "the three parties
that arc again united on one candidate
and the reaffirmation of the Chicago plat
form at Kansas City, and calling on 1.-The
sound money forces to join in again con-
demning these doctrines. He says that
whatever issue is paramount, this one at
least is immediate.
From this appeal Mr.. Mckinley passes
rather abruptly to detailed report upon
the state of the country, loaded with sta
tistics that are designed to show the pros
perity introduced by the Republican ad-
ministration and to be secured and con-
tnucd V the writer's re election. Nari-
Gus incidental topics are touched upon, in
the manner of an annual message-posi-
lively where the party policy is clear, eau
tiously where the subject is difficult. The
gracefulness with which he skates over
the thin ice of the Trust question without
saying anything is especially to be OBJ
served
Thus far the letter is not unusual. The
para graph about Porto Rico is adroitly
handled and it is likely that the original
purpose was to dispose of the Philippine
question on a similar scale and SO COM
pete the letter within reasonable proper
tions. But since Mr.. Bryan brought this
subject forward as the only subject of his
opening speech, Mr.. Mckinley, without
changing the order in which the questions
of the campaign were arranged in the
Philadelphia platform, has really made all
the rest but an introduction to what may
be called a report and defense of the rela-
tions of the United States with the Phil
ippines, from the destruction of the Span
ish fleet in Manila Bay down to the pres
ent time
This history occupies two-thirds of the
long paper and is in every respect its most
important part. 1t cannot be said to tell
| anything new or to present anything in a
| new light, but as a carefully deliberated
official narrative, presenting the facts and
| reasons which the President believes to
justify the past action and present policy
of his administration, it is entitled to the
attention which it must receive.
1t is not necessary to discuss the Presi-
dents presentation of the subject now.
1t will have plenty of discussion in the
campaign and the glittering phrases with
which he punctuates his plea do not make
an end of controversy. The very serious
sequel Of our military expansion in the
East that is just now disqueting the coun-
try receives no attention in the letter.
There is just little postscript referring
to the relief of the legations at Pekin, but
nothing about the new engagements of
| the United States in the European con-
cert. The omission is doubtless prudent
philadelphia Times.