The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-05-09

ed the President, the expressions of
good will and the manifold evidences
of unparalleled prosperity which have
been spread out before him as he has
journeyed through the sunny South
land have inspired this third-term
talk. 1t originates with men who
cannot conceiye that human ambi
tions have their limitations, and who,
very sinisterly. credit the President
with seeing in his reception an
invitation to again become can
didate, and with accepting it on the
spot. Needless to say, President Nc
Kinley is very different from the esti-
mate put upon him by such Demo
Gratis. The third-term idea has GER
tainly never occurred to him, and
this tour is absolutely without signif-
icance in relation to his personal po-
litical fortunes.
President Mckinley is undeniably
a shrewd and able politician. His
wonderful tact, wide acquaintance
with men and intimacy with condi-
tions and affairs enables him to play
the game of national politics with as
much ability as was ever shown by
ward leader. Such a man is never
mistaken about the impossible. He
knows his whole strength, and he will
never risk defeat by going beyond
his strength. Nor will the President.
There are no further honors to be
gathered by him in this country. He
has had all that he can ever hope to
secure in politics, fact with which
none is more familiar than is he him
self. His future hopes are clustered
about his present term; according as
it successfully rounds out the work
he began in 1897 will his name endure
in the history of the nation. He will
never risk FORGETTING the honor and
esteem in which he now seems des-
tined to be remembered by future
generations by aspiring to third
term. He is not foolish enough to
rush in where Washington feared to
tread; even were he so disposed the
lamentable case of Grant would re-
| strain him. AS things now stand,
President Mckinley knows the mex
tinguishable honor that will be his
when he quits his high office; he is too
shrewd in politics to sacrifice that for
an ignominious defeat, which would
come to him should he again stand
for the presidency.
Democrats can, therefore, ease their
minds. Their party lacks purpose;
its organization is shattered, and it is
without force to promote national
policies, even if it were agreed upon
them. But the President has no
thought of taking advantage of this
condition. He is now engaged in a
very different mission. His present
tour is primarily one of rest and rec
reation. incidentally, Mr.. McKin-
ley is carrying certain import
ant messages to the people of the
country. In the fall of 1898 President
Mckinley travelled from Washington
to Omaha and back, traversing the
most populous sections of the country
on mission very similar to this one.
During that trip he studied public
| ant hic 81 flxy
the ground. What he then learned
confirmed him in the conviction that
| the new policy of territorial expan-
sion would be approved by the peo-
pie. Once more the President is tax
| ing the gauge of public sentiment.
Before he returns to Washington he
will have explained the administra-
tion's policies to the people in all
parts of the country, and with his
own eyes convinced himself of the at
titude of the people toward these pol
icies. According as the public APP
proves or disapproves, the course of
the administration during the next
four years will be shaped. No Presi-
dent was ever more responsive to pub
lie sentiment than has been President
Mckinley, and his present journey
will equip him to sustain this record
during his second term. To enable
him to do so, and thereby more Sc
curely entrench the Republican party
in the favor of the people, is the po-
litical purpose of the tour. In this
the President labors for the future of
the party that has honored him, but
without thought of realizing direct
personal profit from his labors. Bal
timore American.