Mr. McKinley has been appointed Chairman of the Con- vention,
and made on Wednesday a furiously Protectionist speech. He said that "the Democrats believe in direct taxa- tion,—that is, in taxing ourselves ; but we Republicans do not believe in that principle so long as we can find anybody else to tax," a remark which is a strange outcome of the new gospel of altruism. Mr. McKinley evidently believes that in taxing imports he is taxing the foreigner, and not the American buyers of foreign articles, who, nevertheless, pay- the bills. He added that "a more protective tariff gave the widest possibilities to American genius and effort," which is- like saying that you can breed genius by making all per- sons pay more than they need for all that they consume. The speech was wildly applauded, but it is said to have killed Mr. McKinley's chances, a section of the Republican farmers looking on him as a fanatic, and not believing that,. as they are not protected, it can pay them to have every- thing made dear. It is in Mr. McKinley's favour, however,. that his election would be a great shock to all European, manufacturers.
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