Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-07-14

Good u Man rs Either OF His Grand
rathors--BIorton Self Made Man.
Gen Harrison has been Republican
all his adult life, having cast his first
vote for John G. Fremont in 1856 In a
speech delivered at Chicago last spring,
no said MY first presidential vote was
given for tho first presidential candidate
of the Republican party, and have sup
ported with enthusiasm every successor
to Fremont. including that matchless
statesman who claimed our suffrage in
1884" Gen. Harrison began his political
life by being Republican from convic-
ton, and he has been that kind of Re-
publican over since. The earnestness and
sincerity of his nature would prevent him
from espousing or advocating a political
cause which his conscience did not fully
approve. In a speech delivered last year,
during q time of political excitement. he
said.
II am one of those who believe that to
fight without cause is not noble thing;
that fighting and conquest become noble
as they are done in behalf of cause that
kindles the high impulses of the human
heart and demands tho allegiance of the
enlightened conscience. | believe the
Republican party in Indiana and in tho
nation stand today for such issues. No
man was the architect of the Republican
party You may call the roll Of those
who sat in the first convention and de-
fined its principles. but beg you to re-
member that every one of them was O
delegate and beg you further to remem-
Der that those principles of liberty which
were announced in our first platform were
written in the hearts of the people before
they were written in the platform"
These expressions are characteristic Of
the man He is as conscientious in his
political convictions as he is in his religi-
Gus convictions. Being that kind of o
man he has never faltered in his devotion
to the principles of the party, nor failed
to give his best efforts for its success.
Being Republican from principle he
could not do otherwise without doing vic.
lence to his nature. he has never tried
to push himself to the front, but has often
been brought there by the call of the
party or the necessities Of the situation.
He has never been an Office seeker.
Offices and honors have sought him
rather His present position is not of his
seeking Although frequently mentioned
during the last few years as presidential
possibility he has never had the bee in his
bonnet enough to disturb in the slightest
degree the even tenor of his way His
present candidacy is the result of the
efforts of his friends and the spontaneous
movement of the Republican party.
Having always been Republican and
always in close accord with the principles
of the party, there is nothing in Gen.
Harrisons record that requires explain
ing, defending or patching up. On all
the issues which have formed the divid-
ing lines between political parties for the
last thirty years he has been an out
spoken advocate of advanced Republican
ism. He represents the military as well
as the civil side of the Republican record.
His military record is of the best, as
those who served with or under him
can testify. Fighting Joe Hooker, in
recommending him for promotion to
the rank of brigadier general for gal
lantry on the field and for distinguished
services in the campaign before Atlanta,
said: "Col. Harrison is an officer of superb
or abilities and of great professional and
personal worth" His whole military
record sustains this estimate. In all tho
great issues of the reconstruction period
Gen. Harrison occupied bold and advanced
ground in favor of the supremacy of the
Constitution and in advocacy of the policy
of securing the results of the war by ap-
propriate legislation. Although not in
public life at this time, his eloquent voice
was frequently heard on the stump in sup
port of Republican measures and policy,
and he contributed his full share toward
creating and holding the active Republi-
can sentiment of that period.
Gen. Harrison is unequivocally in favor
r. A.. q
Hon James G. Blaine, in his dispatch to
Gen. Harrison congratulating him on his
nomination, said: Your election will seal
our industrial independence, as the declar-
alton of rs. which bears the honored name
of your grandfather. sealed our political
Independence. Mr.. Blaine is not mis-
taken in regarding Gen. Harrison as pre-
eminently sound on the tariff question
On this paramount issue of the hour he is
in full accord with the overwhelming SEN
timent of the Republican party. and with
tho ringing declaration of the Chicago
platform Ho is on record rs saying that
''the Republican party is pledged, and
ought to be pledged. to the doctrine of
the protection Of American industries and
American labor" Again. he has declared
that lin so far as our native inven-
tive genius and our productive forces
can supply tho American market we
ought to keep it for ourselves. Again.
he says Il believe the principle of
the protection Of American industry is
well established and well defended
by the principles of political economy
and by the duties of patriotism"
And again Our worlkingmen will wake
up to the fact that reduction in their
wages. which every candid advocate
of free trade admits must come with tho
adoption of his theories--a reduction vari-
ously estimated at from 10 to % per cent.
lis poorly compensated by tho cheaper
coat he Is promised. These expressions
are taken at random from speeches by
Gen. Harrison. and might be indefinitely
multiplied They show that his position
on the vital question Of the day. and
which will exercise great and perhaps
controlling influence in the cola.lg cam
paign and election, is pre-eminently sound.
The declaration of the Chicago platform
that "We arc uncompromisingly in favor
of the American system of protection. is
a complete epitome Of Gen. Harrison's
record ON the tariff question.
a Comparison for Veterans.