Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-18
Little Benny HarriSon's Letter
and What Is It?
The ARTRGL DODGERS TRICKS.
He Eyadss Every Issue Upon Which he
Touches.
DOES HE FAVOR TARIFF REFORM
Or Free Whisky--DOss He Favor Cheap
Clothing and Cheap Food or Cheap
TObaccO--Hs Totally Ignores the
Labor Question.

INDIANAPOLIS, September 1.-THE
Sentinel publishes the following criticism
of General Harrison's letter:
To TIE Editor:
SIR:-On February Z, 1874, Ralph
Waldo Emerson, in an address at Boston,
said that when men are Legislators for the
area betwixt the two oceans, betwixt the
SHOWS and the tropics, somewhat of the
grandeur of nature will infuse
itself into the code" That was
q very courageous prophesy, and
one that was well-founded apparently,
forty-fOur years ago. How much of it has
been fulfilled is for the people to consider.
We have jdst been pondering over letter
meant to influence the thought and to
satisfy the conscience of the go, 600, coo of
people on this "area betwixt two oceans
betwixt the SHOWS and the tropics" and
it is we'll for Us to inquire whether some.
what of the grandeur of nature" has in
spi1eI the hand that wrote it. A man
who asks the people to make him Presi-
dent over this mighty country should not
be merely clever or adroit; he should have
somewhat of the grandeur of nature in
him. Mr.. Harrison has written ard
published letter of acceptance by which,
presumably, he is willing to be measured
publicly, Justly, unspsripgly. Will he
and his friends consider the criticism OF a
citizsn II so, will inquire:
Is Mr.. Hsrrison's letter az open, manly,
direct, uptquivocsl statement of any polit-
ical or governmental policy? Was that
letter meant 10 light up the subjects about
which the people are ipquiriDg, or was it
deity fashioned to becloud the public
mind and to obscure questions of highest
THE TARIFF.
What policy of taxation does Mr.. Har-
rison propose? One sentence is clear,
strong, unmistaksble: THE Republican
party holds that protective tariff is con-
stitutional, wholesome and necessary" ]"
What about the growing surplus in the
treasury? Not word for relief He sug-
gests that he would be in favor of reyis-
ion of taxation; but he sdroitly refuses to
say upon what articles be would make a
reduction. The Mills bill and President
Clsveland's message declare for the free
importation of wool, and the Democratic
national platform adopts the same. Was
il outright and courageous for Mr.. Harri-
son to evade this point and content him
self with adrOit generslitiesP Who can
find ont from Mr.. Hsrrison's letter wheth-
er or not he is in favor of free wool, free
salt or free lumber? If he fsvors reduc-
ton OF the treasury surplus, how will be
reduce il? The people expected that he
would tell them; but he cleverly SHE'D
away from the responsibility.
THE PROTECTION OF LABOR.
Mr.. Harrison had On excellent oppOr-
tunity to frame his letter $50 as TO make
himself understood by laboring people.
He lives within few squares Of the spot
where little while ago large body OF
earnest aud intelligent railroad working
men were struggling for better wages. he
has clear recollectiOns OF certain matters
with that struggle. He Is not
q stranger to the labor question, for he has
long been q railroad lawyer, and has ad-
yiaed corporations in their difficulties with
employees. Now, why did he nimbly
evsde the subject? Was he simply ex-
hibitipV his cleyerness, or was he avoiding
s heavy responsibility and an urgent duty
to his conscience and the people? We may
tolerate petty smartness in ward poll
ticisns and street. corner takers, but tho
people look for Eberality, breadth and
a sincerity unQusstionsble in the public
utterancss of candidate for the highest
gift.
Mr.. Harrison NAV have made literature,
in one sense, when he cunningly wrote:
''The effect Of lower rates (of tsXation) and
larger importations upon the public rev.
snue ia contingent and doubtful" but he
made no record of sincerity and outright
dealing with the people. What does he
mean? Does he mean that it is doubtful
whether a lower rate of taxation would de-
crease the revenueP What contingency
does he refer TOP He says: "The fact OF a
treasury surplus, the amount Of which is
yariously stated, has directed public at
tention TO consideration of the methods
by which the national income may be re-
duced to the level of q wise and necessary
expenditure" and then, at the same time,
is arguing that such q reduction would be
an assault upon protection of labor! Let
me place two paragraphs of this letter side
by side:
M / NO. .
Judged by the execu- The fact of treasury
tive message of Decem-1surpius, the amount Oh
her last. by the Mills which is variously
bill, BY the debates in stated, has directed
Congress ard by the 81 public attention 70
Lnuis platform, tn reconsideration Of the
Democratic marty will methods by which the
n SunD,rted by theuational income may
couutry, place the tsrihI be reduced 10 lhe leSei
laws upon purely rev. OF wise ana Necessary
enue basis. This II pric-expenditure. a
Hicsi free tradeIfree proper reduction Of the
trade 1 N tn e English revenue does not neces-
sense. state ana Aloulu no'
ment orthe impairment
Of the protective sys-
tenn.
What sort of reduction does Mr.. Harri-
sou favor? A proper reduction" means
nothing without specifications. What Is
the difference, pray, between reduction
to - purely revenue basis' ana and re-
duction 'to the level Of wise and neceS-
ssry expenditure?" What is "a purely
basis" if il is not basis on the
'level of wise and necessary expendi-
ture?r Does Mr.. Harrison imagine that
the people canuot discover circunlocu-
ton so obviously intended to deceive?
By such artful dodging, by such sdroit
phrssing, Mr.. Harrison hopes, On one hand,
to gain credit for fayoring q reduction OF
taxation so as to remove the surplus, and
ON the other hand to make the people be-
lieye that such o reduction is the very
essence of English free trade"
FREE WHISKY.
The ethics Of politics, from Mr.. HarIi.
aon,s point of view, feels the terrible strain
of the whisky plank in the Chicago plat
form. The public conscience has respond
a ,,-o,on,Iv IN anch in0uiriea "a. Which