New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-11
OLD TIPPECANOE.
A LETTER OF PRESIDENT HARRTsoN's.
FRANKLY DISCUSSING POLITICS WITH ONE OF
HIS NETWORK FRIENDS.

HIS NETWORK FRIENDS
rome EdftoroTThc Trfbune.
Sir On looking OF ny fathers found
the following letter from President william Henry liar
rison dated at North Bend, July IL, 1897 which I
thought might prove OF interest to your readers.
North Bend, July IL, 1897.
NV dear Sir: / had the pleasure two days
ago TO receive your letter Of the Sd instant 1t
is the only one that 1 have been favored with
from any Of my friends in your State for the
last six months. / had noticed the movements
made in favor OF Mr.. Webster in New-York, and
had witnessed indeed, contributed TO them as
far as was in my power the honors paid to him
in the Western country, without any feelings
of jealousy being willing, as ever have been 10
yield my claims TO him or any other person
on whom those in opposition to the principles
of the Administration could unite.
must confess however, that do not think
that l have been very fairly treated. During
the whole winter (up indeed, to the period OF
the adjournment Of Congress- information was
received from various sources that IL was agreed
upon by the leading men OF the Nation assem-
blcd at Washington that was to be the only can
didate But sooner did the measures OF the
late Administration begin to operate with bale
full influence the business and commerce OF
| the country and the present incumbent Of the
| Presidency avow his determination to adhere TO
Mr. Webster began to entertain the hope that the
influence of Jacksonsm would so rapidly de-
cline, and that of the Wings become so decidedly
dominant, that the elevation OF either Of these
| gentlemen to the Presidential chair would be
certain il either could receive the nomination
| of respectable portion of the party, and that
| under the influence OF such nomination the
partialities of the people for another would be
| given up.
| To this effort in their behalf l have no OBJ
lection. Let the attempt be made, and If it
should succeed there is who will more
strenuousy exert himself for the consummatiOn
of their wishes than | will 1t is, however, I
think, necessary that the ground upon which they
expected to rest should be well reconnoitred
Confidence in the weakness of enemy has pro-
duced the most disastrous defeats on record
There are unqucstionably seeds Of disafectioa
and symptoms of mutiny in the ranks OF our
enemy 1t must be rccollocted, however, that
their discipline is perfect, their immense
and their experience in the OF them trans
cendent
These things seem to be overlooked by some of
our political friends. Full of confidence from the
supposed declining strength OF the enemy, and
believing that the victory is certain, they urge
the choice of a leader solely on the ground OF his
superior abilities to manage the Government after
This is consideration which should be always
kept in sight. But. before make it the sole
consideration. we should possess something like
certainty that the battle we to tight will be
determined in cur favor. To gain victory with
"A leader who did not possess the talents or the
disposition TO make the proper use Of it would
be bad indeed but | do not know that defeat
would be any better.
Some of the chivarous friends of Mr.. Webster
think otherwise. Defeat with an able leader is
with them glory enough, but in the kind OF battle
that we are to fight, glory should not be one OF
cur calculations, DIT least that kind of glory which
these gentlemen speak of-dylng hard. Ours Is a
civil Wharf.-The glory to be gained is not from the
victory we may achieve but from the use
make of it, -..----
To make proper use Of it depends I must ac-
knowledge, much upon the talents of the leader,
but more his disposition. If his heart is
right if he loves his friends more than himself and
his country more than his friends with moderate
share of talent he may be enabled to ascertain
the happiness Of his country and shed new lustre
upon its republican constitution, by showing that
it possesses within itself the healing power, Sc Wis
med catrix,' for every injury which may be doue
to it by the daring usurper or cunning demagogue.
l thank you sincerely for chasing me among
those who are capable of filling the Executive
~NN-N-S'
being eithef great orator or able lawyer You
will no doubt see before this reaches you the
proceedings of the late Ohio Convention. Many
of my friends and indeed believe the bulk of
the people here, are dissatisfied by the manner
in which the resolution IN relation TO myself was
drawn Mr.. Hammond, who was one of the con-
vention, decided friend of mine, who advocated
the resolution IL stood. has come out IN his
paper {" The Cincinnati Gazette") with an ex-
Ill Of tl.A nj. in
passing it in the shape in which you will it.
| enclose you strips of the paper containing it.
Notwithstanding the convention was numerously
attended, l do not believe that the general or Ma
tional Convention is measure very acceptable
to the people, and have some doubts whether
Indiana will send a delegation TO it. l incOsc
also strip from an Indiana paper on that
subject The grounds upon which the National
Convention is unacceptable to many are First,
that the opposition have hitherto uniformly
demned the recourse which has been had to il by
our opponents, and secondly, they fearful that
the decision of the convention will be made by the
votes Of members from States which Will give
aid when the recourse is had to the ballot boxes.
They fear that Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania,
kentucky and Illinois, which are considered GER
tain at the election by the people, will be over
powered in the convention by Ncw-lork, Connecti-
cut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New-Ilsmpshire
and Vermont.
Some strength is given 10 this supposition by
article which lately appeared in Webbs " Courier
and Enquirer" Mr.. w, when opposing the i'm
mediate nomination of Mr.. Webster by his friends
in New-lork, says that " if that measure is noo
taken he will pledge himself that he Mr.. W will
be nominated By the people, Now il is very
well known that neither OF the five first mentioned
States, as well as New-Jersey Maryland and Della
ware, will nominate him. nor will the Southern
nor Southwestern States How, then, is he 20 be
nominated but on the votes Of the unavailable
States? am, very truly yours,
Al