Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-07-05
THE TREND OF PUBLIC 0SEHTIMENT.
National Convention HRnna's
"sure Thing" PIatform-The Nc
Kinley Policy Towards Great Brit
ain-Trust "PrOsperity."
Especial correspondence

an indication of the kind of campaign
the republicans are going to put up, it
looks like confession of defeat before
hand. Even the imperturbable Mark
Hanna seems to realize that the drift
of public sentiment is against his
party.
Hanna with his usual lack of tact let
the country see during the national
convention how completely he is the
party boss. He hobnobbed with mil
honaires and trust directors and he let
it be clearly understood that Mckinley
was only the puppet which he and his
moneyed friends put up t 10 move as they
willed. Even the few instances where
Hanna tried to give out the impression
that he was not entirely in control
were so clumsily managed as to be alb
.surd.
The voters of the country, regardless
of party, are not pleased at the open
attempt to control affairs in the inter-
est of the moneyed few. The whole at
mosphere of the Philadelphia conven-
ton intensifies the interest in the dem
ocratic national convention at Kansas
City.
That will be a serious gathering be-
cause matters of grave Importance are
to be discussed and acted upon, but it
will be real convention in close touch
with the people and trying to carry
out their wishes for a return to honest
and constitutional government. There
will be enthusiasm and earnest pur-
pose at the Kansas City convention and
it will be spontaneous. Not all the
brass bands nor expensive display at
Philadelphia could galvanize the re-
publican performance into any sem
blance of life.
Everybody knew that the affair was
cut and dried in Washington and, ex-
.cept for the looks of it, the delegates
might as we'll have staid home and let
Hanna and his friends announce the
candidates and platform.
The republican convention was not
able for the number of government Off
cials-high and low-who found time
TO leave their duties in Washington
and run over to Philadelphia. At Kan
sas City there will be something differ
ent from gathering of automatic dele
gates and anxious office holders. 1t
will be a convention where the dele
gates actually represent the sentiment
of their home people. Even with the
honest differences of opinion which
might be expected from delegates
from widely-separated sections, the in
'dications are that the Kansas City con-
vention will be harmonious-not with
the graveyard harmony so apparent in
the republican gathering, but the har-
mony which comes when men drop all
minor differences in order to deal with
grave problems which affect the very
life and continuance of a free nation.
Trucking to Great britain.
The Chinese complication is causing
not a little anxiety in Washington.
There is every indication that the do
mestic convulsion in China will drag in
the European nations, and it is diff
cult to foresee the end.
The administration is not talking so
loudly now about its "open door" with
the publication of a consular report
from one of the chief ports in China
pointing out that the Chinese have no
use whatever for American-I1anufac
tured goods. They prefer their clumsy
hand methods to our complicated ma
chinery and their wants are so simple
and their standard of living so low
that they have no desire for our manu-
featured products, and even if they had
they have no money with which to buy
them.
The administration has known all
along that the cry of Expansion of
oriental trade" was a delusion. but it
served to distract attention from the
costly laundering in the Philippines.
Now, however, immense pressure is
being brought to bear on the admins
tration from British sources, to per-
suade Mckinley to send troops into
China. 1t is being put up TO him thatit
is a part of his understanding" with
Great Britain that he shall help her
out in her troubles.
The fact is that Great Britain cannot
spare troops from the Transvaal to go
into China. The Beers are still keep
ing Lord Roberts very busy. So she
hopes to make Mckinley her catspaw
with which to rake her share of the
Chinese chestnuts out of the fire.
If an election were not pending the
administration would hasten to do the
bidding of the Briton, but it has finally
been borne in upon the Mckinley adj
ministration that the people of this
country are Disguised with its pro-
British sentiments, so unusual caution
ds being observed in the Chinese mat
ter. The people may just as well under
stand first as last. however, that this
country has nothing TO gain in China,
and II it goes into the matter to any
extent it may find itself involved in an
international war.
Trust Prosperity.
The republicans are inclined to drop
all other issues and cling to the "pros-
perity" argument. Even here the facts
are not convincing, for the average !