The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-27
Harrison's Growing Strength.
From the Indianapolis Journal.

of the present campaign there Is none
more remarkable than General Har.
rison's growth in the public esllma-
ton, since his nomination, The
campaign is destined to be a remark
able one in many respects. The
remarkable deyelOpement of Ameri-
can feeling, the unexpected promi-
nence given to the national flag, the
revival of the patriotic memories of
the war, the enthusiasm of the old
men who were voters in 1886 and
1910, the still greater enthusiasm of
the young first voters, fully four
fifths of whom are Republicans, are
some of the salient features of cam
paign which is without parallel in
recent times. Not even in the mem.
orable rampaign of 1860, when the
Republican party achieved its first
national victory the leadership of the
martyred Lincoln, were the evidences
of individual conviction, popular en-
thusiasm and local activity more APP.
parent than they are at present,
But none of these features, nor all
of them combined, tend more to in
dividualize the campaign and differ
entiate it from all others than the
sstteasdy-and- remarkable manner in
which General Harrison has contin-
ued to grow in the estimation of the
public, from the day of his nomina-
ton to the present. Three months
ago when the Indiana delegation and
his other friends at Chicago were
urging his nomination they put it on
the ground of his availability, his
high character and great ability, his
true and tried RepubIicanism, and
his spotless record as a soldier and
statesman. To such as had not close
~ observed General Harrison's ca.
reer, or who were not informed as to
his intellectual and moral qualities,
his friends gave strong assurance that
he was eminently qualified for the
presidential office, and would meet
the highest expectations that could
be formed Of him as a candidate and
leader. AT that time it could hardly
be said that GederaI Harrison had
national reputation in the sense of
being widely and almost universally
known, and it was not surprising
that some curiosity should exist as to
what manner of man the H00siers
were so earnestly and enthusiast
iaalIy pressing for the nomination.
But the boosters knew their man,
and were not backward about en-
dorsing him. Knowing that if nom
mated he would meet every require
ment of the position and every ex-
pectation of the party, they had no
hesitation in giving the strongest
possible assurances on this score.
How safe they were in doing so let
the record of the last three months
decide. How completely Gen. Har-
rison has justified the representation
at Chicago Of those who knew him
best, let his present standing before
the American people determine. No
man ever grew more rapidly in pub
lie estimation than Gen. Harrison
has during the last three months,
and no candidate ever more COM
pIetely indicated the wisdom of
conventions choice. Few men and
few characters can stand the ordeal of
being placed on such a pedestal,
standing for months in the fierce
light that beats on a presidential
nominee, target for calumny as
we'll as criticism, without disclosing
some weakness or defect.
Fewer still can pass through het
far more trying ordeal of receiving
thousands upon thousands OF visitors
and making scores of speeches to
acres upon acres of people, touching
more or less directly on nearly every
phase of public affairs, without max
ing single mistake that his enemies
can sieze upon, or saying a single
thing that his friends could wish un-
said. In this respect Gen, Harrison's
candidacy is unique and unparalleled,
Tie has already made more than
sixty speeches since his nomination,
and not dull one in the entire num-
Der, nor single error. The gifted |
Garfield was not called upon to make |
so many speeches, and he certainly
did not make better ones, and we do |
not forget the great speeches of Mr..
Blaine. Gen. Harrison's speeches
show something more than a mere
gift of oratory. They reveal the
quality of his mind, the sincerity
and strength of his convictions, the
breadth and catholicity of his views,
the warmth and feryor of his feelings,
his fine imagination and his lofty pa
triOtism. This is not flattery it is
the mouths of millions, the common
talk ofthe country. Thus it is that