The bee., 1902-03-06


sonapieness, he improved our understand
ing " ith all the great powers of the world
and rightly gained the blessing which be-
longs TO the peacemakers
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY.
But the achievements Of the nation In
war and diplomacy are thrown In the
shade by the vast economical develop
ments which took place during Mr. NC.
Kinley's administration. Up to the time
OF his first election the country was sur
fering from a long period of depression,
the reasons of which l will not try to
seek, but from the moment the ballots
were counted that betokened his advent
to power a great and momentous move
ment in advance declared itself along oil
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 depres-
sion. that through the power of the race
to organize and combine. stimulated by
the conditions then prevailing, and per-
haps by the prospect of legislation favor
able to industry, America had begun to
undersell the rest of the world. The
movement went on without ceasing. The
president and his party kept the pledges
Dingley bill was speedily framed and set
In operation. All industries responded to
the new stimulus, and American trade set
out on its new crusade not to conquer the
world, but to trade with It on terms ad-
vantageous to all concerned. l will 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 we borrowed
two hundred millions and paid our own
expenses, without asking for indemnity
the effective reduction OF the debt now
exceeds the total Of the war bonds. We
pay six millions 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 five
hundred and forty-six millions of gross
gold in the treasury.
DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE.
But, coming to the development of our
trade in the four Mckinley years, we
seem to be entering the realm of fable. In
the last fiscal year our excess of exports
over imports was 1864, ,592, ,S26. In the last
four years 1t was S2,354, 1928. These fig
ures are so stupendous that they mean
little to a careless reader. But consderl
The excess OF exports over imports for the
whole preceding period from 1890 to 1897
from Washington to McKinley-was only
$356, sos, ,S22.
The most extravagant promises made
by the sanguine Mckinley advocates five
years ago are left out of sight by these
sober facts. The debtor nation" has be-
come the chief creditor nation. The flnan-
clal center of the world, which 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 explaining
that / do not invoke for any man the
credit of this vast result. The captain
cannot claim that It is he who drives the
mighty steamship over the tumbling bill
lows of the trackless deep, but praise is
justly due him II he has made the best of
her tremendous powers, II he has read
Alright the currents OF the sea and the
lessons of the stars, and we should be un-
grateful II in this hour of prodigious pros
perity we should fail TO remember that
William Mckinley with sublime faith
foresaw II, with indomitable courage la
bored for IL, put his whole heart and mind
into the work OF bringing it about, that
II was his voice which. in dark hours,
rang out, heralding the coming light, as
over the twilight waters of the Nile the
mystic cry of Memnon announced the
dawn to Egypt. waking from sleep.
HIS SOUTHERN VISITS.
Among the most agreeable incidents of
the presidents term of office were the
two journeys he made to the south. The
moral reunion of the sections, so long
and so ardently desired by him, had been
initiated by the Spanish war, when the
veterans of both sides and their sons had
marched shoulder to shoulder together
under the same banner. The president in
these, journeys sought, with more than
usual eloquence and pathos, to create a
sentiment which should end forever the
ancient feud. He was too good politician
TO expect any results in the way of votes
in his favor, and he accomplished none.
But for all that the good seed did not fan
on barren ground. In the warm and
chivalrous hearts of that generous people
the echo of his cordial and brotherly
words will linger long, and his name will
be cherished in many household where
even yet the lost cause is worshiped.
Mr.. Mckinley was reelected by an over
whelming majority. There had been little
doubt Of the result among well Informed
people, but when IL was known a pro-
found feeling of relief and renewal OF
trust were evident among the leaders OF
capital and of industry not only in this
country, but everywhere. They felt that
the immediate future was secure and that
trade and commerce might safely push
forward in every field of effort and enter
prise. He inspired universal confidence,
which is the lfeblood of the commercial
system of the world. 1t began frequently
to be said that such a state of things
ought TO continue. One after another, men
of prominence said that the president was
his own best successor Tie paid little at
tention to these suggestions until they
were repeated by some Of his nearest
friends. Then he saw that -one of the
most cherished traditions OF our public
life was in danger. The generation which
has seen the prophecy of the papal throne
mon videbis amos Petri-twice contra
dicted by the longevity of holy men was
I'm peril of forgetting the unwritten law OF
our republication shalt not exceed the
years of Washington. The president saw
it was time to speak, and in his charac-
teristic manner he spoke, briefly, but
enough. Where the lightning strikes
there is no need OF iteration. From that
hour no one dreamed of doubling his pur-
pose OF retiring at the end of his second
term. and It will be long before another
such lesson is required.
THE HARVEST TIME.
He felt that the harvest time was come
to garner in the fruits of so much plant
ing and culture, and he was determined
that nothing he might do or say should
be liable to the reproach of a personal In
terest. Let us say frankly he was party
man. He believed the policies advocated
by him and his friends counted for much
nA ifxr