New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-28

duties In the premises. man either weak or
rash, either irresolute or headstrong. might have
brought ruin on himself and incalculabe harm
to the country.
Again l crave pardon of those who differ with
me. If. against all my intentions / happen to
| say word which may seem to them unbeftting
| the place and hour. But am here TO give the
| opinion which his friends entertained of Presi-
dent Mckinley of course claiming no immunity
from criticism in what / shall say. l believe,
then that the verdict Of history will be that he
met all these grave questions with perfect
valor and incompatible ability: that in CRAP
ping with them he rose to the full height of a
great occasion, in a manner which redounded to
the lasting benefit of the country and to his
own immortal honor
The least desira BE form of glory to a man Of
his habitual mood and temper--that of success
ful war-was nevertheless conferred upon him
by uncomfortable events. He felt it must come;
he deplored its necessity; he strained almost to
breaking his relations with his friends in order,
f1rst 20 prevent and then to postpone 1t to the
latest possible moment. But when the die was
cast he labored with the utmost energy and
ardor. and with an intelligence in military mat
ters which showed how much of the soldier still
survived in the mature statesman. to push for
ward the war TO decisive close. War was
anguish TO him; he wanted il short and con-
elusive. His merciful zeal communicated itself
to his subordinates and the war; so long
dreaded, whose consequences were so momen-
tous, ended In a hundred days.
Mr. Stedman. the dean of our poets has called
him "Augmenter of the State" It is proud
title; If justly conferred, IL ranks him among the
few whose names may be placed definitely and
forever In charge of the historic muse. Under
his rule Hawaii has come to us, and Tutuila;
Porto Rico and the vast archipelago Of the East.
Cuba is free. Our position in the Caribbean is
assured beyond the possibility of future ques-
ton. The doctrine called by the name of Mon
roe, so long derided and denied by alien pub
ltcists. evokes now no challenge or contradic-
ton when uttered TO the world. 1t has become
an international truism Our sister republics
to the south OF us convinced that desire
only their peace and prosperity Europe knows
that we cherish dreams but those of world
wide commerce. the benefit of which shall be to
all nations. The State is augmented but IL threat
ems no nation under heaven. AS to those re-
gions which have come under the shadow of
our flag, the possibility of their being dam
aged by such change of circumstances was
in the view of Mckinley thing unthinkable.
To believe that we could NOT administer them
to their advantage was to turn inftdel to our
American faith of more than hundred years.
THE GREATEST AMERICAN DIPLoMATIsT.
In dealing with foreign powers he will take
rank with the greatest of our diplomatiStS. 1t
a world of which he had little special
knowledge before coming to the Presidency. But
his marvellous adaptability was in nothing more
remarkable than in the firm grasp he immedi-
ately displayed in international relations. In
preparing Ior war ana IN tne restorallon 20 Oh
sighted. When a sudden emergency declared
itself. as in China in a state of things of which
our history furnished no precedent and inter
national law no safe and certain precept, he
hesitated not a moment to take the course
marked out for him by considerations of hui
mainly and the national interests Even while
the legations fighting for their lives
against bands of Infatuated fanatics he de-
cided that we We're at peace with China, and
while that conclusion did not hinder him from
taking the most energetic measures to rescue
our imperilled citizens. IL enabled him to main
tain close and friendly relations with the wise
and heroic viceroys of the south, whose reso
anarchy and spoliation. He disposed of every
question Ii arose with promptness and
clarity of vision that astonshed his advisers,
and he never had occasion TO review a judg-
ment reverse a decision.
By patience, by f1rmness, by sheer reasonable
ness. he improved our understanding with all
the great powers of the world and rightly
gained the blessing which belongs to the peace
makers.
VAST ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS.
But the achievements of the nation in war
and diplomacy are thrown in the shade by the
vast economical Developments which took place
during McKinley's administration. Up to the
time of his first election the country was suf-
fering from a long period of depression, the
reasons Of which 1 will not try to seek. But
from the moment the ballots were counted that
betokened his advent to power, a great and mo-
along all the lines of industry and commerce.
In the very month of his Inauguration steel
rails began to be sold at SIS a ton-one of the
most significant facts OF modern times. 1t
meant that American industries had adjusted
themselves to the long depression-that through
the power of the race to organize and combine
stimulated by the conditions then prevailing,
and perhaps by the prospect of legislation ia
vorable to industry. America had begun to
went without ceasing. The President and
his party kept the pledges of their platform
and their canvass The Dingley bill was speedi-
ly framed and set in operation All industries
responded to the new stimulus, and American
trade set out it's new crusade. not to con-
quer the world, but to trade with II on terms
advantageous to all concerned. viii not weary
you with statistics, but one or two words seem
necessary to show how the acts of Mckinley
as President kept pace with his professions as
candidate His four years of administration
were costly; we carried on a war which, though
brief was expensive. Although borrowed
$500, 000,0 900 and paid our own expenses, with
out asking for indemnity, the effective reduction
of the debt now exceeds the total of the war
bonds We pay Sc 100000 less in interest than
we did before the war; and no bond of the
United States yields the holder per cent on
its market value. So much for the government
credit; and we have S546. 100000 of gross gold
in the Treasury.
But coming to the development of trade
in the four Mckinley years, We seem to be
year our excess of exports over imports
S6fs4, 500. S26. In the last four years II
| 50 354 442 213 These figures are stupendous
that they mean little TO a careless reader-but
consideri The excess of exports over imports
for the whole preceding period from 1890 TO
1S97-from Washington TO McKinley-was only
$3.50, sos, 800.
The most extrava CANT promises made by the
sanguine Mckinley advocates five years ago
are left out of sight by these sober facts The
debtor nation" has become the chief creditor
required thousands of years to journey from the
Euphrates to the Thames and the Seine seems
passing to the Hudson between daybreak and
dark
| will not waste your time by explainig that
] do not invoke for any man the credit of this
vast result. The captain cannot claim that 1t is
he who drives the mighty steamship the
tumbling pillows of the trackless deep. but
praise Is Justly due him If he has made the
best of her tremendous powers, if he has read
Alright the currents of the sea and the lessons
20 And Shnnld bA IL