The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-10
Mr.. McKinic,,. Last Chance.

Mr.. Mckinlcy's Last Chance.
One Of the most unfortunate features of
the current political situation in the United
States, as it affects the intelligent and
patriotic elements of both national parties
is that neither has been able to secure
emancipation for its several organiza-
lions from the confusion of issues which
prevents both from agreeing upon what are
binding equally upon all true Americans
without distinction of party. and from
joining issue upon what are pertinent only
TO domestic policy and method. and hence
proper objects of in,ernal political differ
ence.
Thus. the thinking people of the ooun-
try, who. If left alone by the politicians.
would readily agree that every inch of ter
ritory gained in the Spanish war must be
preserved and developed; that every foot
of soil so made American should be ac-
corded all the commercial rights under the
flag of every other foot; and that freedom
Of trade should be coterminous with ma
tional sovereignty, are prevented from so
agreeing by the actions OF leaders in real
or nominal control of party agencies. We
haze Republicans like Senator Hoar, with
numerous satellites such as Herr Most
Herr Schurz. the blaring Mason. the bleat-
ing Wellington, and the blithering Petit
grew. who denounce good, honest Jeffer-
sonian and Jacksonian expansion as
crime. but warmly approve the anti-ex-
pansion policy OF the Republican party In
imposing the blighting curse OF Dingley-
ism upon our new possessions, though the
policy may mean the starvation of loyal
colonists by the hundred thousand.
Then. on the other hand, we have So
called Democrats who would prevent the
country from becoming a world power. be-
cause that might make its commercial IN
terests paramount 20 those of remote
country districts, or might-from the
viewpoint of ignorant provincialism-in-
/ terfere with the monopoly resulting from
the alliance between the beet and cane
/ sugar producers of Nebraska and Louis
! lana with the Sugar Trust. So. the indie
pendent and patriotic people. Democrats
and Republicans. who constitute the mean
between the extremes, are left in the air
TO which they may turn for settled po-
litical home. Mr.. Mckinley, more than
any President since Washington. has en-
joyed an opportunity TO take the people
out OF party and solidfy them in one
great mass in support Of policy of splen-
did expansion and the fulfillment Of ma
tional destiny He has lost his chance by
complaisance to Eaganism. by federation
of the miscresnts who poisoned our army
with rotten meat; by rewarding the per-
sons who aided in that protection; by sup
porting the disgrace Of Sampsonism; by
winking at a partnership between the
Treasury and a great Wall Street mopop-
oily; and. finally, by acquiescing in the re-
vival of the defunct Clayton Bulwer Treaty
and a scheme to build the Nicaragua Canal
under the suzerainty and for the CONNER
cial and military benefit of Great Britain
What is the net result of all these mis-
takes? II is that million or two Amer
leans of Independent and patriotic thought
and purpose who gladly would have ad-
hered to Mr.. Mckinley on a platform Of
expansion and equitable treatment of
American eolonies-who would have fol-
lowed him blindly in a movement for an
American Nicaragua Canal, free from Brit
ish control or infuenc will now accept
anything rather than the subsection of our
colonies to the devastation of Dingleyism
or our country TO the contemptuous tutelage
of England in the conduct of our own af-
fairs in our own hemisphere.