The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-11-07

In the reelection OF President McKin-
ley the people have declared that they
prefer hin and his party 10 Mr.. Bryan
and the incongrUous combination by
which he was supported
Before the canvass opened, and for
some weeks thereafter, there were Re-
publican politicians OF experience and sa-
gacity who doubted the possibility OF re-
electing any President for a second con-
secutive term They believed that the
disaffection inevitably resulting from the
disposition OF the immense and steadily
increasing patronage OF the government
was so great that 10 nominate a Presi-
cent to succeed himself was 10 Invite he
fear. They pointed TO the fact that as a
consequence Of the war Of 1898 the pa
tronage OF the Mckinley administration
had been abnormal. and they argued that
the number OF the disgruntled must be
proportionably augmented. But the result
proves that as a choice between existing
conditions and the only change possible.
the disaffected must have decided that
II were better TO bear those Ills we have
than fly 10 others that we know not Of"
Prosperity may be set down as the chief
cause Of the Republican triumph. Never
before in our history was It the fortune
OF any party to 80 TO the country with an
appeal for a vote OF confidence with such
record OF promises fulfilled; in fact
more than fulfilled. for the story tod
by the statistics OF financial, industrial.
and commercial progress between 1896 and
1870 surpassed the hopes OF the most
optimistic enthusiasts and COMPOUNDED
the gloomiest pessimists. II was-and II
is-a record-breaking story. not only as
10 the United States. but as 10 the world
at large. In no other country in any
age has such magnificent growth in all
the elements OF substantial prosperity
been achieved as In this country OF ours
since free coinage was defeated in 1896.
Naturally enough. the Republican party
got the credit for the wonderful and
beneficent change just as It would have
received discredit If conditions had been
reversed.
And prosperity was not the only great
and exceptional advantage with which
the Republicans entered upon the cam
vass. Never before was any party, In a
quadrennial appeal for a new lease of
power, so fortunate as to be confronted
by q candidate who insisted, as a eondi-
ton Of his acceptance, upon a detailed re-
affirmation OF so overwhelmingly discredit-
ed an issue as that for which Mr.. BRYAN
stood in 1896. and which he forced into
the Kansas City declaration of faith. Yet
in spite of that hobgoblin the Democratic
party seemed TO have solid ground for
hope after the delivery of Mr.. Bryan's
admirable notification speech at Indian
apolis. But that hope was treated to a
wet blanket when the candidate boldly
Haunted l6 TO in the faces of the Ger
man-Americans at Milwaukee The hon.
esty or that performance was only ex-
celled by its reckless indiscretion.
Throughout the canvass there was an
unprecedented haziness and indirectness
as 10 issues. That which the Democrats
declared TO be 'the paramount issue"
was, and still Is. a judicial question. a
question Of constitutional construction
that was pending before the Supreme
Court when the campaign began. and
which viii In few days be argued be-
fore that tribunal The currency issue
had already been settled. As TO trusts,
there was no issue. as both sides de-
Lounced them. The part they played In
the campaign was simply a challenge to
a comparison of the records of the con-
tending parties on monopolIstic combina-
TONS
As The Post has heretofore pointed
out. It will be impossible to find in the
election returns any gauge OF public SEN
timent as 10 issues AS a choice between
the only change possible--the transfer OF
the government to Mr.. Bryan and his
mixed following and a second Mckinley
adminisuation--the country prefers the
latter.
Prosperity has won on the old maxim
let well enough alone"