The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-13


n Maine in declaring formally
for the nomination and
reelection of President Mckinley sug-
gests brief inquiry into the causes
of this mans wonderful hold upon the
American people.
When Mckinley was nominated at
St. Louis, the feeling which prevailed
among perhaps majority Of the Re-
publcans IN public life was that a
grave party risk was being taken. Nc
Kinley as the apostle of protection
and author of tariff bill which had
brought about a prosperity that had
given way to panic after the Demo-
Gratis had substituted the Wilson nos
trum of tariff reform; Mckinley as a
man of gracious personality whose
thorough cultivation of the art of maxi
ing friends had established in every
section of our country the nucleus of
volunteer organization which Mark
Hanna and other resourceful admirers
supplemented by practical promotion;
Mckinley as a governor of Ohio who
had shown more desire to pacify the
clashing factions than success in the
bestowal of patronage-this man of
destiny-the words were sometimes
used derisively then-had won greater
favor among the people than he had
acquired among the politicians. The
latter remembered Garfield and were
distrustful. They had done their best
to sidetrack him with Reed, and hav-
ing been beaten at st. Louis they were
inclined to view the future with mis-
gvings.
Such We are frank to say, was the
feeling behind the scenes when McKin-
ley became president. We need not
occupy space with a list of the details
of his administration; few of the great
events crowded into the intervening
three years have escaped the public's
memory But what is chiefly signif-
cant in the connection in which we
write, for we are considering now Nc
Kinley's relationship toward Republic
can politics, is that while retaining a
mastery over the esteem and, indeed,
the affection of the common people GER
tainly not surpassed by any man in
our generation, he'has also, after three
years Of having to Geal with very
numerous items of patronage. captured
the good will of an overwhelming ma
jority of the politicians Not a hand is
lifted against him. Nor has there been
any serious canvassinG of the possi-
bilities of an organized resistance to
his renOmination The launching of
the Dewey boom, evidently planned as
a stunning surprise, caused not a tre-
NOR in Republican circles; Dewey, at
the pinnacle of the Dewey excitement,
could not have displaced Mckinley had
he tried. People and politicians for
once are of one accord. Mckinley has
survived without injury q series of
storms in public opinion which might
readily have caused a weaker mans
utter undoing. The camor oyer Cuba,
the beef scandal and Algerism, the
Otis round robin and the temporary
change in policy concerning Puerto
Rico-all seemed at tn, time to threat
en- his political life yet all passed
smoothly and harnlessly by; so will
it be with the furry of sympathy for
the Beers which designing Democrats
are trying to turn into campaign fac
tor.
The simple truth of a long story is
that William Mckinley in the Office of
president of the United States has out
grown all expectations and has fairly
earned his place among the great ad-
ministrators of our history. He has
been honest, patient, sef-controled; he
has shown the fine intuitions of a mas
ter politician and has utilized them in
carrying out the broad policies of a
great statesman. The war which is, of
course, the historic feature of his ad-
Winistration, came up suddenly, like a
tropical storm, and broke before its
iNminence was generally appreciated.
but SO far as one administration could
remedy the deficiencies of years the
administration Of William Mckinley
was found prepared and self-confident.
The. SWIFT results of the war outran
and surpassed the most daring antici-
satfohs' but the only pause before the
administration cheerful acceptance OF
rheW; was while the people themselves
. We're adjusting their minds to the new
Situation, High purpose, manly cour-
age common sense and kindly spirit
are" McKinley's chief personal and
official characteristics; and their en-
bodiment in the exceptional achieve
pnents OF his truly marvellous admins
tfation answers the ordinarily difficult
question of presidential succession.
wThe ehoice of Maine will be the choice
Of the nation.