Totals

9

10:25

182 136 129318 129 258 168 21 205 145 97

All members of the Republican National Committee, present in New York, in a joint statement, November 5, claimed 294. Their list includes Kentucky, but does not include Nebraska and Utah.

Public Policy's estimate, October 13, claimed 52 votes not claimed by the New York Herald, Public Ledger or New York World. Of this 52 just one-half, 26, are in the Republican column. If Kentucky and Idaho shall finally be counted for the Republicans. 42 out of these 52 votes will confirm our judgment.

Taking the result as now published, the New York Herald was 34 votes short, the Public Ledger 87 votes short, the New York World 26 votes short and Public Policy 26 votes over the result. If Kentucky is counted for the Republicans the estimate of Public Policy will be only 13 votes over, and will be the nearest correct of any estimate made in October.

WILLIAM MCKINLEY AND HIS OPPORTUNITIES.

The re-election of William McKinley president of the United States will be most fortunate for the man and for the republic if he shall prove himself the equal of his opportunities during his second administration. It has been said "there is no standard for greatness.' There is. Every man is great who is the equal of his opportunities. By this standard the measure of every man can be justly taken, from the humblest to the most exalted the world has known. Opportunities are unequal. They limit the possibilities of every human life. Every man who closes a career with a record which shows him to have been equal to his opportunities cannot be deprived of the crown, success. The verdict of all who know him, the judgment of the great Ruler of the Universe who gave him life and created the opportunities by which his life is justly measured must be he was the equal of his opportunities, therefore he accomplished all God designed he should. Higher praise than this no inan can receive or earn.

Opportunities presented themselves to William McKinley during his first term in number and character wholly unforeseen when the people elected him president, or when he assumed the duties of that high office. He has won approval of the manner in which he has dealt with problems that were new to the

American people, as well as those that were involved in the issues upon which he was first elected. So far all is well. This must not be accepted, however, as proving the wisdom of his administration. The people are not infallible. In fact, a large and very intelligent number to-day regard Mr. McKinley's re-election as the result of a choice between two evils, of which the lesser was chosen, rather than as an indorsement of his administration. The crucial test is to come. If he is able to prove himself the equal of his opportunities during the administration of his second term, for which he cannot seek the approval of his countrymen by seeking a third election, no president of the republic will have accomplished more than he for his country, for civilization, for humanity. When the possibility of a re-election was before him it was only human that many of his acts, consciously or unconsciously, were inspired by a praiseworthy ambition to win the approval he has received. He now has the opportunity to administer the duties of the high office of president of the United States freed from all temptation so to shape his course as to win a re-election, and with the inspiration of the most honorable, the most lofty ambition that can influence a human mind. His appeal for approval cannot again be made to the people. It must be made to the impartial and expert judgment of those who write history. They will measure his administration by its opportunities and will attest its wisdom, or unwisdom,