But this did not cause him to lose faith in the wisdom and the ultimate popularity of the bill which he was proud to have bear his name.
"A little time," said McKinley, "will prove the wisdom of the measure." In this he was not mistaken.

His defeat for reelection to Congress ultimately made him President of the United States; for the following year the Republicans of his State elected him Governor, which was a stepping-stone to the Presidency.

All that was needed was an opportunity for the merits of his bill to be thoroughly tested.

Shortly after its passage, but before it could be enforced or even explained, the people were led to believe that it was a harsh, cruel, and unjust measure, imposing heavy, unreasonable, and unnecessary taxes upon them, increasing the prices of the necessaries of life without a corresponding increase in the price of labor.

The people were in an ugly mood in anticipation of what was never fully realized.
It is true that the tariff was not the sole issue that resulted in such a sweeping Republican victory in the National elections of 1896.