The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
SUNDAY. MARCH a. 1909.


A year from today. being Monday. tht
An OF March. 1891. a new President Of the
United States will be inaugurated. Barring
the accident Of death the man viii be
either William Mckinley or William j.
Bryan. A few weeks ago we would have
said that nothing humanity probable could
prevent the candidacy or the election OF
Mr. Mckinley. The developments Of the
past two weeks have radically changed
this opinion.
From the time of his Inauguration, on
March 4. 1897. The Times has endeavored
to treat the Administration Of Mr. Nc
Kinley impartaIly and with the most
kindly consideration. Dating from the
moment when he took the oath Of Office
which obliged him to defend the Consutu-
ton Of the United States. this journal has
supported the President whenever it could
conscientiously do so, and has criticised
him only when no other course was open
to it, He had no more candid or strenu-
Gus supporter in his war for humanity
against Spain than The Times. He had
no more earnest or consistent backing
than The Times gave him in his policy to
gather in and utilize the fruits Of victory
whatever may have been the results.
While the war was on we had nothing but
good words for the American Commander
in-Chief, and, the Treaty Of Peace being
signed, we insisted that the country should
come into its righteous reward. In short,
while The Times primarily might be sup
posed to be Democratic in principle, and
hence politically opposed to a Republican
Administration. we have felt it to be en-
titled to earnest and loyal support in all
matters involving the good Of the country
or the glory Of the flag.
But we have reluctantly reached the con-
elusion that it would be madness for the
American people to give Mr.. Mckinley
another term in the White House. The
malign and almost if not quite criminal
influences which have dominated his policy
and conduct, we have passed OVER as light
ly as possible. and, sometimes. We have
suppressed criticism which might have been
Justified except that it would have az
fected the personality OF a person who oc-
cupied the highest Office fl the country.
and consequently, on account Of that Of
fee, was to be held immune from attack
save in the way provided in the Consutu-
tion. But the spectacle which Nj. McKin-
ley has presented recently demonstrates
that he, Of all the types Of men who have
occupied the White House, Is the most dan
gerous to the public welfare.
A weak man, who can be driven from the
most steadfast determination to fulfill his
oath to obey and defend the Constitution,
and to extend justice and mercy to an
American community suffering famine
under the outrageous and Illegal oppTes-
sion Of his Administration. IS not the kind
Of being to entrust with the more than
imperial power OF the American Presi-
dency. Mr.. Mckinley has been false to the
oath he took on the steps OF the Capitol
He and his masters and coparceners in
politics have dared to trample the Cousti-
tuition under their feet. in attempting TO
treat American as foreign territory. He
has been willing to make the rights Of the
people subserviert to the interests Of the
money power and the great industrial
trusts. and he must be eyicted from the
Executive Mansion. The only man WHO
can accomplish this necessary act Of Wis
dom and justice is Nj Bryan. He is the
natural ana the logical leader Of the De-
IN ,he ordinary course Of human
events. he will be President.