What other Republican besides McKinley might have won the 1896 election?
What is their range of potential policy differences from McKinley?
I cannot think of any on the domestic front except maybe for an adjustment up or down, but not by much, in the tariff rate.
I think there is more range of choice on foreign policy.
McKinley is described as being reluctantly drawn into the war with Spain after a majority of the American elite, including Congress, were convinced.
Might another guy been enthusiastic rather than reluctant, starting the fight weeks earlier or perhaps in1897?
Might they have been inclined to annex Hawaii faster?
On the other hand, could an alternateRepublican have held the line against going to war with Spain at all, or annexing Hawaii?