Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-03
AN ENGLISH OPINION
OF PRESIDENT M'KINLBY.

on Friday week had thrilled the world |
with horror and surprise, and there
seemed at first no room for hope that
he might recover. The series Of favor
able bulletins issued by the physicians
and the unofficial reports of the Preai-
DENTS cheerfulness and courage under
the most trying conditions caused a
sudden revulsion of feeling, and by
Thursday most Of US had persuaded
ourselves that Mr. Mckinley would
soun be restored to health. The I'M
favorable bulletin issued on Thursday
night suddenly changed hope into
despair, and for many hours before the
end came, early on Saturday morning,
it was known that nothing could save
the President. Medical science has
been as powerless against the murderer's
bullet as it was in the case OF the late
President Garfield, who was shot under
similar circumstances 20 years ago and,
after giving sigps of recovery, all at
once collapsed and died. We may
indeed he thankful. for his bereaved
family's sake as well as, for his own,
that, as the case was apparently hope
less from the first, Mt. Mckinley was
spared tine long weeks of suffering
which Mr.. Garfield had to bear before
ubhbu hb lhob Eblchsba Ailhs
No foreign ruler of our time will be
mourned more widely and more sin
cerely than the late President. The
crime committed at Buffalo was an at
tack not merely upon the head Of the
United States. but upon the present
constitution of civilized society, and
excited on that account the Irofoundest
indignation among all civilized peoples.
AS an assault upon the head OF a great
country which Ia just now on the best
OF terms with all NATIONS, it was oalou-
lated to win universal sympathy for
Mr.. Mckinley and his stricken people.
But the Presidents murder has caused
general grief mainly for REASONS peculiar
to himself. He was the very type of
the thoroughly constitutional ruler
elected by universal suffrage and max
| ing IL his constant endeavor TO govern
| in accordance with the wishes Of the
majority-who alone, 1T might have
been thought, had nothing whatever
| to fear from the ASSASSIN. An honest
aud upright man, Of blameless private
| life and spotless integrity in his politi-
cal dealings, President Mckinley was
personally respected by all parties In
| the United States. He was not great
ruler; he was not very wise or far
seeing statesman; he was not an elo-
auent orator, nor distinguished in de-
bate. He had no grand policy to ex-
pound to the country, nor did he re-
main steadfast in any particular set Of
political principles which seemed likely
to arouse much opposition. When the
popular cry was for war against Spain
to free Cuba, President Mok inley,
though himself man Of peace, did not
attempt to stem the current Of feeling,
bnt yielded to the clamor. When bic
presented the Hay Paunoefote Conven.
tion regarding the Isthmian Canal tc
the Senate he did not firmly insist thai
lit should be ratified, and when the
treaty In its original form was rejected
he bowed to the ruling of the Senate
On the great questions of the annexa
tion of the Philippines, the future o.
Cuba, and the treatment to be accorded
to Porto Rico questions of the utmos
Importance to the Republic--Presiden
Mckinley took up 70 definite posi- ion
but modified his views in accordance
with the changes of public opinion
From time to time he asked the Senat
to accept treaties OF reciprocity which
would modify the rieors OF protsctioi
and improve the relations OF the Unitet
States with other Powers; but he ueve
used his vast influence with his Owl
party in Congress to secure Its ap
! proyal of these wise measures, and ao
cepted calmly the defeat of one treat.
| after another. But the fact remain
that, though MIR. Mckinley was not
strong or determined President, he wa
we'll liked by all. He endeavored t
reflect the opinion Of the good averag
citizen and to steer safe middle oours
in politics. He was one of those ruler
who consider 1t their function to in
terpret rather THAI to form publi
opinion. HIS reelection to Office las
November by a surprising majorit
showed how fully he had attained hi
! end. 1t was indeed cruel fate that
President so thoroughly democratic i
: spirit should perish by the hand Of a
, assassin.
1t is too soon to estimate Presider
MoKinley's place in the history of hi
country. The theory Of the Presidents
Office upon which he acted consistent
may have had more lasting effects tina
a any single measure of his. BY maxim
it clear that he would always bow
T the will of Congress he may have pc
3 manently altered the balance Of I'll
t Constitution The fathers of the r,
I public intended the elected PresideI
Q to exercise power at least equal IL nj
Q superior to that Of Congress, and thei
a is no doubt that President can, If h
Q own party is in majority 10 DO,
9 Houses, sway Congress at his will. Bi
d Mr.. Mckinley took contrary viey
Q 1t was not for him to influence Col
;, gress; it was for Congress to infiuen,
II him. The Legislative Assembly mu
y take the initiative, and no must a
upon their advice. 1t cannot be sa
:, that the events of the past four yea
&c speak we'll for this plan of gqgernin
y The responsibility of Legislatu
y that has no direct control over I'll
3 executive has been painfully manifesto
l. in the dealings of the Senate wi
q various treaties, and has PLAYED Il
United States government in som
!. what humiliating position with regal
l. to foreign Powers. In domestic atfai
d the readiness of the President to fall
d with the viewsl OF influential membe
10 of his party has led TO serious compile
lions in respect of the Porto Rico tarii
IS and has caused grave public scand
is in the partial revocation of the DIV
Service law and the dismissal oil capah
and honest officials to make room
ofiice-seekers who had no qualification
Of save their devotion to the Republici
t. party. Yet though Mr.. Mckinley mi
IN have been mistaken in adhering to
~ theory which has had such unfGrtuna
Is conseq uences, no one questions d
Re honesty of his motives or doubts thf
l. placed in a most difficult position
g. earnestly tried to do his best both
~ his party aud his country. 1t may
Us honed that the ills resulting from