The news & observer., 1900-11-11


making this year would have placed
him in the rank of great orators, no
matter what sycophantic editors and
inspired reporters might have said
about it, but he preserved the tradi-
tions of his high office by remaining off
the stump. | don't. see why an occu-
pant of the White House who is can
dldate for re election should be compel
led to remain silent, but those who are
up in presidential etiquette have de-
cided that a president shall remain
dumb as an oyster while seeking sec
ond term. | am sure that Mr.. McKin-
ley would have received hearty wei
come, even from Democrats, In any
portion of the republic, for there is no
rancor against him personally any
where.
Hanna, the Ridiculous.
Bourke Cochran added absolutely
nothing to his fame either in 1896 or
1900. Unless all signs are deceptive he
reached his high water mark as an ora
tor and in popularity in 1892 at Chica-
go when in the wee sma' hours of the
morning he excoriated Grover Cleve-
land.
Mark Hanna's egotistical effort to
break into the ranks of the spellbind-
ers excited only ridicule from Maine to
Texas and from Marthas Vineyard to
the Golden Gate. suppose it gratified
his vanity to see his words in print.
Tbot xxoS fh1, mt rac,,lt Of hic 0potor.
ical caper except that he caused a good
many Republican statesmen to take to
hard cussing and furnished considera-
BILE ammunition for Democrats.
Carl SchurZ. Senator Wellington.
Governor Boutwell,, General John Il.
Henderson, Henry NJ. Johnson of Indi-
ana, ex-senator PETER, Colonel Camp
beH of Illinois, Senator Stewart. Web
ster Davis and other conspicuous men
who changed parties in the contest Sc
cured new audiences. but it may be Sc
riously doubted whether they in any
way enhanced their reputation or infu-
ence by their radical change of base.
Roosevelt's Fury.
Perhaps the Republican who reaped
the most notoriety il not fame during
the campaign is Governor Theodore
Roosevelt, who was constantly on the
60 He talked a great deal. Most of
what he said was well said. A great
deal of it was arrant nonsense-mere
sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Some of it was an insult to and libel
upon millions of his fellow citizens, but
as rule from a rhetorical and gram
matical point of view his jabber was
all right Nevertheless. with all his
going to and fro, wandering up anu
down and jawsmithery. when he comes
to take stock of himself and his doings
he will be seriously puzzled to deter
mine whether he was a greater public
figure the day of the election than lie
was the day of his nomination. The
chances are that his rantankerousness
and bumptiousness have caused many
of his more sensible admirers to cease
to regard him as a presidential possi+
bility, but If he did not make sub
stantial growth in reputation no Re-
publican in this campaign did.
"A
Richardson Of Tennessee played In
great luck from the beginning and
came out of the campaign a much
greater figure than when he went in.
Richardson is tact personified, which
Henry Ward Beecher ranked above
talents. The slim Tenncsseean is the
most amiable Of mortals. and very few
people will envy him his new laurels.
He takes things by the smooth handle
and makes no enemies. He got off on
the right foot every time during the en-
tire campaign, Either a great many
opportunities came to him or he made
good many for himself, | don't know
which.
Campaigns Contrasted.
Third.-The most talked of feature of
the campaign was it's utter unlikeness
to the campaign of 1896. The enthusi-
asm, wild and universal. of that phe-
nomenal year was not observable any,
where. In Il general sense it may be
stated that in 1896 everybody argued
politics vchemently and in most un-
seemly manner and that in 1900 nobody
argued politics at all except candidates
In esse or IN posse. Indeed the enthu-
siasm Of 1896 took on largely the char
acter of hysteria on both sides. 1t was
a supreme effort Of both Republicans
and Denocrats-in fact of the whole
American people. When the contest
was over, Interest in politics for the
average citizen was completely ex
hausted. lie had not recuperated in
1900. He may never entirely recupcr
ate, though the chances are that b.
will. but my prediction is that 70:
many years to come all campaigns
when compared with that of 1896 will
appear fat and stale. if not unprofta
lle. We will Jog along more leisurely
il not more comfortably.
The difference between the cam
paigns of 1896 md 1900 is worthy of
the profound consideration of the
statesmen. politicians and philosophers
for campaigns in Il constitutional gov
ernment are matters of highest mo
ment. Of most serious import to all
classes and conditions of people. In
fn,