New-York tribune., 1888-08-31


Democrats have a peculiar faculty for in
venting calumnes which refute themselves.
and therefore it is usually good politics and
good sense for Republicans to stand quietly
aside and watch the smile of compacency on
their enemies faces gradually replaced by the
grimace of humiliation. But occasionally it
is impossible to resist the temptation to plant
knockdown blow between the eyes and listen
for the dull thud with which a soft head smtes
the earth.
In this mood we copy elsewhere the clear.
comprehensive and convincing record of Gen.
eral HarrisOn's connection with the railroad
strikes of 1877, prepared by railroad operatives
The Democratic press printed simultaneously
and by previous arrangement yesterday con-
coction of false statements and unsupported
inferences. put together by Federal Office
holder in Indiana who might better be en-
gagged in manifesting less pernicious activity,
and declaimed before campaign meeting on
Wednesday evening. The Cleveland organs
in this city pretended to have received the
stuff by telegraph from Indianapolis, but in
fact they have been poring over tho proof
sheets for several days. "The Herald" was
World" could not be content with much less
than half page. The document drawn up by
employees of the railroads concerned in the
troubles of eleven years ago is so decisive and
timely an exposure of this miserable attack
upon General Harrison that the Democrats will
find, as usual. that they have been fooling with
boomerang. They have succeeded in pro-
ducing facts which will be worth many votes
to the Republican candidate in Indiana, and
wherever honest men live and labor.
But aside from the specific value OF this
refutation of peculiarly disgraceful slander, it
furnishes q striking illustration Of General
Harrisons mental and moral quality. Good
men are often led by popular excitement or
their own native fervor into positions from
which in camer times they find it necessary to
make an honorable retreat But the more
closely the Republican candidates career is
studied the more clearly must every candid
inquirer sec how sober and discriminating his
judgment has been in every emergency, and
how firmly he has allied himself to principles
which he could mover be called on to abandon.
He stands out at all times the master Of him
self and Of tho situation. The irredeemable
CuTIcuCy iu1CCtiVn was CSPCSioHJ vAu'S"S ~
Indiana, but General Harrison never either
caught or feared it. Many who did not actual
ly get the fever said: I'VE must let it take
its course.n He said: eve must stamp 1t
out" A clear head and clear conscience
guided his steps and they never faltered. So
of his record on the Chinese question, in which
the Democrats are dsmayed and chagrined to
discover that they can pick no flaws. Though
opposed, as Congressman Morrow, Of Califor-
MIA, lately said, to the abrogation of treaty
by indirect legislation, he perfectly compre-
hendcd and steadfastly adhered to the under
lying principle and when the opportunity ar
rived he voted in committee and on the floor
of the Senate for the most efficient bill ever
presented in Congress to cover the Chinese case
And SO OF his attitude in the portentous rail-
road strikes, which the Democrats are now
perverting to antagonize him. He stood brave
ly and calmly between hostile extremes So
licitous that the public peace should be pre-
served, he was not less soIicitous that the strik
ers should be approached in the spirit of JUS
tice and generous confidence. lie would not
tolerate the idea that American citizens,
whether employers or employed, were not
amenable to reason. and when the crisis had
passed tho strongest partisans on both sides
frankly acknowledged that he had been right
from first to last.