The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-14
An ..AuthOrlzrd" Iife 81 President
NcINtu0ey

has been enough change in the char
actcrs and methods OF American poll
ticiars 10 make The ute of Wiihur,
NchHhU. by CHARLES s. OLcorr
'li"usht"n, Mihiin), pose pretty sharply
the question how far the changes
indicate or have worked Improvement
IN our national system. The diffe"-
crcc between that time and this -
not that issues were then more o.
less important, or.men better or worse.
than they are now: but in the con-
ventions and campaigns, the legisla-
tive and executive offices Of McKin-
ley's time the men handled the issues
with = ~clearness and fXi;y OF con-
victlon whose place seems since 20
Lave been taken by o reader adap-
liability of principle Ia the needs or
desires of tho moment. Mr.. Wilson
and Mr.. Roosevelt have travelled
routes quite different from those
oi Cleveland and Mckinley. Nj.
Eryan's Presidential disappointments
are not Of the sort that Blaine's were.
Tho scenery in the House aud the
Senate is ragged Where Il ought to he
rugged. In changing the rough eNte-
ylnr az the older politics for a more
refined appearance VIC seom tn have
substituted for It's comprehensive hui
ma Ctjssedness a chaos Of cross in
terts;S IN an ether OF scif-conscious-
ness. TIL" '9os stand in tho logical as
vel a. tho temporal sense between the
earlier ana later periods.
William Mckinney fitted his time
and SURROUNDINGS. lie served in the
tariff war as he had served n the
civil war: with set purpose to serve
but without insisteDce upon general
recognition of the fact of his service.
MIR. Dlcott gives UP n disproportionate
number of his pages to a detailed his
tory OF tariff legislation in this coun-
try. and. though the object might
have been attained with more economy
"t means. lie succeeds in giving a dis
tnct settiGg to Mckinlev's part In il,
The tariff problem. once considered
worthy occupation for such a mind as
liamilton's, had gradually declined
from tho first high Level Of statesman
ship Ia the condition OF a football Of
I politics. Whether or not Major Me-
klnley's motives ard purposes were
- definite and exalted as they are
represented "a this Life the tariff
served him VOL as a ladder to the
chief Cmincnco. II was no small
thing 80 he ahlc to make the intiica-
C.,s II compromising tariff schedules
as interesting to The multitude as Nc
kinley made 1t 10 his campaign audi.
enros. With that quite special art
he conquered the House Of Repre-,
'"n'atiNcs. yet when he became The
residential candidate Of his party the
tariff as an issue, predominant when
the campaign opened, was quickly
pushed into second place on the pro-
granlmo by the none battle which
Mr.. liryan's opposing candidac,
pushed forward. Even the Repuhli.
can nominee himself was strangel,
slow TO appreciate the situation:
soon after tn. convention a number o
friends were a, Major McKinley's nous,
IN ''anton discussing what would he tn,
issues of the campaign. Among ,hos,
present we're judge bay Successor o
sherman as Secreta-, Of state in Nckin
Joys nrst Cabinet, Mr. Hama and Nr
kohlssat Some one said. TIL" money T.
sue is tn" vita! ihtlc," 20 which MrKln.e
replied, Il An n tar!H man, standing on
tariW platform. This money mater .
unduF prominent. In thirty DAYS yo'
wont hear ANYTHING ahou, it," Judg. ia
remarked, .,'oui,ally. In my opinion. 4
thirty day, You won't hcar " anything
else" AntI 50 "a proved.
Bryan made his GROWN Of thorn
and cross 81 gold" sporclI and tn
country Vas launched upon a cam
ralgn of education on the gold stand
ara ANA tine free cOinage Of silver.
tn" biographies tells fullN in his NV
NulUmcs too fully. We should say, II
some sections. as where he d!gressc
into "A long, detailed retollinG Of N
story of the IIay,s-Tiiden electio,
with the object, which might hav
been accomplished with less strai
upon the readers attention, Of show
ing the condition OF sectional feelin
when McKinley's Congressional ca
reer b~egan-the facts Of the martyre
Presidents life and work. an soldie,
lawyer, Congressman, Governor an
President, with no neglect Of his pri
vate life and his personality, II
the review rather of the man than {
the o~'iccholdcr tiat appeals. thong
eide! citizens may scan with pleasur
n Younger citizens may study wit
profit the record of advancement /
public position won by the stead
) performance of duty, the faithfulnes
and personal honor and hard stud
F., rather than brilIiancc, that made NJ,
> kinlcy's way for him,
Major Mckinley passed throug
| those successive stages Of progress /
: oar public lifc' which lead ia the di.
! &. 49,, t.- -, 800, 49,