The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-12
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

Edward McPherson Indicates Some of the
Issues with Which Il VIII Deal.
Washington special to New York Tribune.
Probably General Harrison will have more or
less to say about the composition Of his Cabinet,
and as be has not yet had any time to sive
to that matter, the gossip and speculation
which assign this or that prominent and de-
serving Republican leader to that or the othsr
Cabinet portfolio may be trifs premature; the
President-elect will have nearly four months in
which TO canvass the field, listen to suggestions
and advice more or less dsinteres,ed, and care
fully weigh the merits and qualifications of the
party leaders General Harrison's friends know
that he is man OF great frmness and decision
Of character, although he lacks that sort Of
obstinscy which springs from ignorance OF pub
lie men and events. and during the campaign he
has shown remarkable self-poise and surprising
keenness OF vision in political sense. It il
fair TO assume. therefore, that he will have q
great deal TO say about the composition OF his
Cabinet, and when he has performed bis duty
in that regard It is probable that large number
of active amateur aud volunteer Csbinesmakers
viii Go disappointed.
There is no reason TO expsct that he will como
Congress in opposition to the views of bis party,
as some of tho friends of the retiring admins
tration already seem to hope IL not to expect
Speaking of some Of the salient public ques-
tions which will invite the attention Of the In
coming President and Congress. that venerable
and acute political observer, Edward McPher-
son. to-day said:
"Well, / assume that the Republican party.
through its executive and its majority in Con-
gress will redeem its pledges in the future &c it
has in the past. The party stands committed TO
a revision Of the revenue laws and reductionfof
taxation. That was the main issue upon which
the battle was fought, and our great victory
won.n
'.Do you look for revision OF the customs
ard internal revenue laws at the coming session
of Coneressf
"That vii. depend of course, upon whether
President Cleveland and the Democratic m a iori-
ty in the House accept tho verdict Of the Amer
ican people rs recorded on Tuesday. ! observe
tendency among the Democratic leaders TO de-
clare in favor Of mailing their colors TO the mast
and continuing to fight for free-irade tariff re-
form, and 1t is iu.imated that In his forthcom-
ing annual message President Cleveland will
adhere to the propositions he laid down last
Decsmber ard upon which he and bis party
have been defeated at the ballot-box. If that
be the attitude Of the President and the House.
Of course, the country will be compelled to wait
until the obstructionists surrender the power
which they have attempted to use to the detri-
ment of the American people. If Mr.. Cleveland
is as honest and brave as his partisaus de-
clare him to be he vii not retreat II Carlisle,
Mills, Scott and their adherents sincere
as they profess to be they will maintain their
hostility to the American System ss protection
to the last day, at least until they land in the
last ditch. You remember that the Southern
leaders 10 both Houses warned the Republicans
and the friends of protection to American in
dustries generally that unless they should ac-
49,
reform embodied in the so-called Mills bill
they would be comoelled to swallow the bitterer
dose. or course, that threat OF the late solid
South sounds bombastic and silly now, and I
eball wait with considerable curiosity TO SEQ
whether il will be repeated after Congress re-
assemblies In December"
"Do you think the Senate will pass the sub
stitute for the House bill"
''Yes; that is my impression. OF course. it
will be likely to undergo some modification.
Some rates OF duty may be increased and some
diminished, as new facts or more thorough in
formation shall Indicate the wisdom of changes.
The people have decided that any revision of the
tariff must be on protective lines, and that the
richest market in the woild shall not become the
prey or foreigners, whose sole advantage over
our own people is gained by the oppression of
labor OF every description, skilled and unskilled.
The people have decided, also, that no revision of
tie tariff on sectional lines would be wise
just The Northern and Western farmer and
artisan are entitled to equal consideration with
Southern cotton or sugar planters or the South
ern rice-growers. The Senate substitute,
l believe, fairly embodies the ideas OF
tariff and internal revenue legislation
which are approved by vass majority
of the American people at the present time But
as ssid before. il tho President and the ma
jority in the house which did his bidding at tia
last ssssion adhere to their former attitude. we
shall DO compelled 20 wats until tho Republicans
assume control HaseAv tss TIE country. the