Evening journal., 1888-12-26

Important Work for Some Days-He IL
In Fine Health and spirits-The G. A. X
Bolt Has Petered Ont.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 2G-The sudden an
nnuncement thnt Gen Harrisons public ro-
ceptions would be suspended during this
week arose, it turns out, neither from thu
desire 10 have little time TO himself n
which to put the finishing touches ON hi,
cabinet, nor from wish for little vacation
&en. Harrison has on hand what is for hima
more serious business than either Of these.
He is thinking what he shall say In his in.
augurnl address To a man who has the idea
Of being president under whom the Repub
lican party shall get fresh and solid griT
upon the country that win last il for am
other quarter Of century, an inaugurR
address is q weighty affair.
II is known that while Gen Harrison pro
fesses to see In the Republican platform the
code Of principles upon which his admins
tration must be conducted, he really hopes
TO develop some new issue that shall take the
place Of the tariff question in future political
contests, and that he Is likely from the start
20 conduct his administration as If upon the
assumption that tho tariff question were set
tied and past
To think of a set Of phrases that shall ex.
press his idea, and not express too much and
seem like an abandonment Of the issue upon
which he was elected, is alone work do
manding time and thought anil when in adj
dition there must be aggregated an abundant
collection of discreet sentences calculated "a
sootho and please the public ear, and at the
same time TO furnish texts upon which the
party may branch out into new fields Of eco
nomical acquisition, It Is a wonder that Cen
Harrison does not take two months of in
stead Of barely a week
10 Is a great deal harder to write message
that does not smash than one that does and
the document upon which Gen. Harrison haa
begun work, II IS safe TO say, viii be an emf
nenty conservative and careful one, and ons
that win not be made public until 1t has been
fortified by tho advice, not 70 say the con
sent, Of men eminent in the party counselS.
What Gen. Harrison Is doing this week Il
simply preparing the first rough draft, which
is TO be elaborated at some future time into
the finished document
1t win set down the subjects 20 be dealt
with, and the lines in which the dealing is "a
run, and for month from now matters con
corning II win be among those upon which
the president will be most earnestly in con
|
Even among the closest friends Of the presi
denteleot there Is little idea as to what will
be the prominent features of the address, bul
it is predicted that the general tenor Of th.
whole will manifest the intention OF con
yinoing the country that no great changes
are contemplated by tho administration, and
Of encouraging everybody, and especially
businesi men, 10 believe that thU eiemeni
Of government interference can be elm
mated almost entirely from private plans
Those engaged in industries affected by the
tariff viii be encouraged 10 think that what
ever changes are probable in tine tariff lawn
are TO be a sort that will not materially altel
tho present condition Of business, and thai
progress townrd tariff reduction, II any 1
maee, win be made slowly and cautiously.
The idea which the president-elect has en-
pressed TO his friends IN the past has been q
so conduct his administration that the coun
try should under him enter upon period q
sure proserity, his idea being that after tn,
tariff excitement and uncertainty of the pas
year or two the country viii welcome an era
Of political peace
Being president-elect has agreed with Gen
Harrison, even II callers have been so thicE
that no has had no time to draft his inaug
urnL There is, from all appearances, ns
danger thnt the Office seekers will worry hin
into an early grave, a. they did his grand
father. His color is better now than during
the summer, and his step has gained frmnes
and his form siraightness since election. He
walks more than ever, and says he think
that Is the reason why his health remains 8
good.
One Of the post-eection side issues has me
with nn untimely pstering out The grea
Democratic organization of veterans tina
was by this time to have exceeded tbs Gran,
Army Of the Republic in sizs and infuenc
has ceased to exist It's existence was 3
feeble that the job Of ceasing was not har'
one The idea Of starting distinctly politi
cal organ Eatlon Of soldiers, because the ex
isting organization had too much politics b
il, did not strike the veterans favorabl,
somehow, and they failed to flock 70 the nev
standard with sufficient eagerness to promis
a self supporting body. Hence the announcc
ment that the plan has been abandoned.
Here is a little pointer as 70 Blaine and tn
cabinet The Rev. DR.. Mcleod, who is yer.
intimate personally with the Harrison family
says positively: Blaine has no more chanc
Of going into the cabinet than have"