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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND to Ohio in 1814. He received his education
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY'S DEATH. at Poland Academy and Alleghany College,
(Daily Press, 16th September.) The great shock occasioned by the receipt of the news of President MCKINLEY's death on Saturday was intensified by the favour- able bulletins which had been issued during the week, leading to a general hope that the wounded President would, with the help of his excellent constitution, survive the mur derous assault made upon him on the 6th instant. Friday's telegrams undoubtedly gave once more a serious aspect to-affairs, but still we were not prepared for the terrible end which has now cast the civilised world into mourning. WILLIAM MCKINLEY has succumbed to the fute which overtook two of his predecessors in the United States Presidency, and, great man as undoubtedly was ABRAHAM LINCOLN, it is no exaggeration to say that the third as sassination is the heaviest blow of the three directed against the United States. It is not the time now to discuss the exact merits of President McKINLEY's policy in the eyes of the world in general; but it can be said without hesitation that the United States during the years 1896-1901 has had no man who could have done for them what Presi dent MCKINLEY has done. No name indeed can be suggested for purposes of com- parison. His Democratic rival, Mr. W. J. BRYAN, beside him seems a farcical com- petitor, and it is extraordinary to think that his chances could ever be thought well of by any clear-headed critics. The premature loss of their distinguished and ever to be regretted President, as King EDWARD most appropriately called the deceased states man in his telegram of condolence 10 Mr. CHOATE, is an irreparable blow to the United States and only in a less degree to the world at large. President MCKINLEY has ruled the States during an epoch of expansion, at a time of growth of the Imperialistic spirit. He has guided their progress into the ranks of militant Powers. Yet his presence at the head of affairs has been a guarantee that the Jingo elements should not sweep the whole country with them, that a check should be put upon aggression dangerous to the peace of the world. It is not to be wondered at that even the news of his sudden relapse caused general consternation and demoralised mar- kets, as telegrams tell us was the case. A feeling of insecurity cannot but reign for long. The murdered President may be followed by a worthy successor. The Uniet States have been fortunate generally in discovering able men to rule them. But it cannot be denied that the new President will have a tremendous task before him. Starting with the handicap of comparison with a notable predecessor, he will be faced by problems, interual and external, of the gravest moment to his country, which call for a very rare combination of courage and ability. For the present, that is until March, 1905. Colouel HEODORE ROOSEVELT, who first became known to the world at large as the organiser and commander of KOOSEVELT'S Rough Riders in Cuba in 1898, and who was elected Vice-President, of the United States last year, will succeed to the Presidency. What may happen thereafter time alone can show. The future offers a problem, the issue of which it is at present perfectly impossible to forecast.
The deceased President was born at Niles, Trumbull Co., in the state of Ohio,on the 29th January, 1843, and was thus over fifty. eight years of age at the time of his death. He was of Scottish-Irish descent originally, while his family moved from Pennsylvania'
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[September 23, 1901.
RUSSIA AND MANCHURIA.
Pennsylvania, and taught in the public
(Daily Press, 17th September.) schools for a time. When the war between It has been stated, and the declaration the North and South broke out, WILLIAM practically amounts to an official one, that MCKINLEY enlisted as a private in the 23rd after the termination of the peace negotia- Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where he became tions at Peking, Russia will reopen the Commissary-Sergeant on the 15th April, Manchurian question, and that China will 1861, 2nd Lieutenant in September, 1862, be obliged to arrive at a settlement with 1st Lieutenant in February 1863, and Cap- her neighbour. The previous benevolent tain in July the following year. In March, professions of the Tsar's Government will 1865, he was brevetted Major by President then, it may be imagined, be shown to be LINCOLN for gallantry in battle, and was worthless. It is strange that any reasojable attached to the staff of General S. S. CAR-man could have had from the beginning ROLL. The war over, Mr. McKINLEY took any doubts as to the intentions of Russia up the study of the law and became a when her intrigues began in Manchuria. barrister in 1867, in which year he settled That individuals should have short memories - at Canton, Ohio, which was his home until is natural enough and on the whole perhaps I the day of his death. In 1876 he was chosen advantageous for the race; but it is not so to be member of the House of Representa easily explicable that with the records of the tives. For fourteen years he represented past to guide them, nations, or at least those the Congressional District to which his entrusted with the guidance of nations, county belonged. As Chairman of Ways should know so little of the past, and should and Means Committee be reported on the have learnt so little from the experience of Tariff of 1890; he had devoted his principal former failures. A curious instance of this attention to the question of Tariff. In perversity is to be found in the negotiations November, 1890, he was defeated in the between France and England at the time elections for Congress in a gerrymanderd when Russia was pursuing a very similar district, but next year he was elected game of bluff and intrigue preparatory to Governor of Ohio, and again in 1 93. In taking possession of the Crimea. In June, 1892 he was Delegate at large from Ohio, 1783, M. D'ADHEMER, representative of and supported the renomination of Mr. France in London, informed the then hend BENJAMIN HARRISON to the Presidency of of the Foreign Office that the King of the United States. At this Convention, in France had just received from the Cabinet spite of the fact that he persistently refused at St. Petersburg the official notification to have his name considered, 182 votes were that Russia had taken possession of the cast for Mr. McKINLEY himself as President. Crimea and the Kuban. Would England, At length, on the 18th June, 1896, he was he was instructed to ask, look with indiffer- nominated for President at St. Louis, 661 out ence on the spirit of conquest which was of a total of 905 votes being given to him, dominant in the councils
of Russia? and at the ensuing November election he was Would England, he went on to say, see with made President by a popular plurality of indifference a Russian fleet supreme in the 600,000 votes, receiving 271 electoral votes Bosporus, or that Constantinople should be against Mr. W. J. BRYAN'S 176. Last given up to Russia If, he finished by November he was re-elected by 295 votes saying, France and England joined in a against Mr. BRYAN'S 152, although the protest, something might be done, but it was Democrats had expressed themselves con- useless for one nation to act alone. Eng. fident before the elections. Quite recently land was at the time in the hands of Fox, President McKINLEY expressed his deter and Russia had taken advantage of his well mination not to accept a third nomination. known proclivities to make the advance. Events unfortunately have put out of the The French Ambassador, in subequently question the possibility of his reconsidering announcing to his Court the non-success of this decision, and his career has ended in his efforts, made the remarkable prophecy a terrible tragedy. Last year a plot against that the policy of England inso grave a President MCKINLEY's life was discovered | matter could not be permament, and sooner by the United States secret service agents, or later England would come to an under- and during ten days of August fourteen standing with France for the purpose of anarchists were arrested, singly and in arresting the progress of the military and pairs, as they landed in New York. It naval power of Russia, which threatened to seems that an anarchist circle in Naples overwhelm the East." Though as yet this decided on the President's death and cast prophecy has had only a partial fulfilment, lots to decide who should be the assassins, there are signs that France under the force Eleven Italians and three Austrians were of circumstances is beginning to cool in selected and sailed from different ports, her fancy for the Muscovite, who having intending to strike at the President at the had all he wanted would now throw her as same time. The vigilance of the detectives an useless incumbrance overboard. Leaving furstrated this abominable design. On this phase of the plot out of the question, the Dresent occasion it would seem is curious to compare the present concern of that the murderer conceived the plan Russia for the well-being of China himself and
kept his Own counsel. with her similar professions towards Turkey He was thus able to carry out a crime in 1825. The Emperor NICHOLAS I had which has plunged the world into the deep-just come to the Throne, and then, as now, est grief, and added one more to the list of the body politic was in a state of ferment; treacherous and wanton murders which have the army whose discipline had been neg. made the word anarchist one of the most lected was mutinous, and the civil popula- horor-inspiring in any language. Recent tion of St. Petersburg was in almost open The British Government was years have seen many of these crimes, and rebellion. authority is powerless to stop them. No occupied by troubles at home and was blame can be said to attach to any one ticklel with a sentiment of freeing Grecce, except the criminal, and the disease of poli- so that altogether the new Emperor thought tical assassination is a phenomenon which the moment favourable for turning the baffles the skill of the wisest. The indivi- thoughts of his people from home politics "It was of course easy to dual murderer alone can be punished; and it to foreign war. remains to offer the last tribute of sorrow fix some outrageous quarrel on Turkey, the and sympathy. To President McKINLEY'S China of the day, the inore especially as the country and his family these are most sin- Sultan had only just cut to pieces his re- cerely and respectfully tendered.
bellious Janissaries, and the Turkish Empire
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