The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-21
Why Mckinley Will
Beat Bryan Rgain
Ex-senator Ingalls, in the North American.

Ex-senator Ingalls, in the North American.
UT Is CUSTOMARY to allude to each presiden-
4 tial election grave and momentous crisis
Il in national affairs, and, in a sense, this IS
true; but the pending campaign may be un-
doubtedly so characterized with justice, and pre-
dctions as to the result are more than ordinarily
hazardous, partly because many of the issues are
new and there has been formal expression of
pubnc opinion upon them, and partly because the
average voter is emancipated from party servi.
tude and is doing his thinking for himself Epi-
thcta have lost their power. Men are no longer
terrorstricken at being called Iscariots, turncoats
or deserters because they abandon their former
political associates at the fork of the roads and
march to another rendezvous. 1t is the age of
Independent thought in art, morals, politics and
religion Possibly million Democrats voted for
Mckinley in 1896, and as many Republicans for
Bryan. What these detached, formidable cohorts,
with their smokclcss powder and modern projcc'
tiles, will do in 1900 must give us pause.
The uxorious episode of Dewey renders certain
what before was not doubtful-that as Mckinley
will be nominated at Philadelphia Bryan
will have no serious opposition at Kansas City.
In the highest degree it is creditable to the in
tclligence Of the people and the quality Of their
institutions that both parties should be repre-
sented by candidates of such exemplary life and
so competent by nature, temperament, education
and experience for the functions that either may
be called to discharge. The traditional frontier
theory that the successful politician must be a
vouble, greasy, staggering, noisy rowdy the boon
companion Of toughs, thugs and rufians--a hypo-
Crite and demagogue, whose days are spent in
the saloon, and whose nights are passed in the
gambling den and the hrothel, has disappeared.
The hayseed epoch has closed The most de-
graded constituency is no longer deluded by pro-
family, slang, filthy anecdotes, bad grammar and
| .ls,V,.
Bryan, by BIRTH education, conduct and career,
are types of the highest order of American citi-
2onshp. Both are deyout, temperate and con.
tinent without asCeticism bgotry Their
mental equipment, while widely dissmilar, does
not differ greatly in weight OF metal. Neither
would be catalogued as a genius, a hero, a po-
Hucal philosopher or constructive statesman.
Mckinley is cautious without being a dissembler; I;
| Bryan bold and intrepid without temerity His
advocacy of free silver looks like rash foolhardi-
! ness, but there is method in his Madness for he
| knows there are states he must have which can.
| not be saved without it.
The president is the embodiment of Republican
| ideas and policies. lie has learned what Bryan
| appears to be incapable of comprehending-t
| politics is the art of compromises and adjust.
| ments. lie who would lead must follow. Ii the
| president seems times to yield or vacilate it is
| not that he has changed his opinion, but had
| modified his tactics and his methods. In nothing
| have his wisdom and skill been more evident
| than in avoiding collision and rupture and hold.
| ing the party together, though differing with
many of its members upon the important issues
| that have suddenly come forward during the
| two past rough and stormy years. With presi.
dent less facile and equable less adrot, affable
and diplomatic we should have seen the wreck
| OF the matte: and the crash Of worlds. lie has
| never exhibited intolerance, arrogance or pride
| OF opinion, and, while always avowng his con.
| victions, has never hesitated TO accept the con-
| clusions of the party of which he is chief agent
| and minister lie was not in favor of the Span
| ish war, and did everything in his power to
| avert ii, but his conduct of the operations on
| land and sea form one of the most glorious chan.
ters IN our annals. He took the sense Of the
| people on the acquisition of the Philippines, and
IN every emergency has shown himself a consum.
mate master in the management of practical
affairs The recognition of these admirable traits
and qualities has established confidence in his
| Judgment, sagacity and patriotism, and will con.
| tribute powerfully to his reelection
Batied rivals may disparage and disappointed
aSplrants decry, but the calm, conservative
thoughtful voters, the farmers, the merchants
and artisans, since mere change of administra ra
tion is not good in itself will insist that those
who demand II shall show cause for it, The
disposition of men generally is to let well enough
alone. The social discomfort which reinforced
Bryan so powerfully in 1896 has disappeared Ir
his appeals to the people now to repudiatc
Repubicanism he addresses constituencies pros
porous beyond precedent, 1t is not, as sometime,