The Republican journal., 1888-12-13

When general in the army he exhibited
this same quality Of application, this same
power Of mastering things which has marked
his career A young lawyer, as ignorant of
military matters as the average raw s're-
cruit," he keenly felt the need of greater IA
miliarity with army methods. So he sat up
nights with the tactics, and long after all
other officers in camp We're asleep Gen. Har-
rison sat in his tent studying the military
code. Another striking instance of this char
acteristic was 6 ven some years later. Gen
Harrison was never good jury lawyer, Jack
ing the brilliancy and charm of oratory and
impassioned address. For the same reason
he was at first not very successful public
speaker, and as he was much on the stump
In his state he determined to correct this de-
feet. So he began a series of efforts to i'm
prove his oratory from popular standpoint
He read the speeches of the great orators of
history, familiariZed himself with their style
and methods as far rs possible, and at once
began to bend his discourse more toward the
ear of the mass of the people, and to learn to
depend less upon the stern, dry logic which
was his more natural forensic weapon
A man now much talked of in Washing
ton as a man of great future possibilities,
first the speakership of the house and ,.fter-
ward the presidency, if fortune continuo TO
favor him, is Congressman Mckinley, Of
Ohio. In study OF the characteristics Of
successful men one would find Mckinley Of a
more happy and pleasing disposition taan
either Cleveland or Harrison. He is man
OF repose, Of quietness CT method, q student,
in the habit of analyzing things closely and
weighing them carefully before deciding,
1,,,fE E,,, {l,o, Al.
bright, almost eloquent speaker, able to
amuse as well as to convince. warm aad
genial in his manners among men, happy at
repartco and fortunate in his friendships.
Mckinley's success is another instance of the
value of hard work applied to u speciality
When he came to congress, ten or
twelve years ago. he was a young
lawyer of only average success in
his profession, but he early deter
mined that he would master one public ques-
ton before taking up any other. He began
studying the tariff, and has been studying it
ever since. He is tariff specialist; Of course
he knows other things, in general way, but
the tariff he is master Of 1t is this knowl-
edge of the tariff question that has brought
him to the top rank in politics. But for all
he has, he has found it necessary work He is
among the few working congressman. The
average congressman Is an idler, fond of So
ciety, gossip, lettering and sport. Mckinley
has eschewed all these in so far as possible
Step into his room at the Ebbitt house and
you will see what the den of working con-
gresham is like Books, papers, scraps, file
cases, government reports, books in foreign
languages, manuscripts, pamphlets are piled
SO thick and high about the little room that
there is left barely enough space for one or
two visitors, all the room will accommodate
to pick their way to chairs Even the tabl,
at which the congressman works is almost
covered with books and papers, leaving a bit
of space on one side just large enough for the
busy man to write upon. A few feet away
sits his private secretary, to whom he
often dictates letters till long after
midnight. If you lift the covers of
these books and pamphlets scattered
about in such hopeless coniusion-their
owner is too busy for much orierlincss-vou
will discover that nine out of ten Of them re
late to the tariff question in one way or
another. This is the age of speciaties, even
in public life, and Mchinleys career, as We'll
as that OF Randall and other Successful le-is-
lators, tells Us that q speciality well mastered
is worth IL very wide range of snattering.
With the 70 assembling of congress Wash
ington is itself again, but the tradesmon are
not satisfied with the result of the election.
Naturally one would think Il change OK adj
ministration would bring in now lot Of Office
holders and office seekers, and thus contribute
to the prosperity of the capital But the
tradesinen-aud there is nothing keeuor IN
the world than traie-have n queer way
of looking at .his The Office holding
people already here, they say, have been saw
ing up their money for q rainy day, intend
ing to have a snug pot laid aside in case
they should he so unfortunate US tc
lose their places by means OF 4 politi-
cal revolution. Had their party been
successful in the elections and their tenure
Of Office thus assured, they would have been
willing to spend the money which they have
been saving, Int now that they are a-fpar
and a-trrmble they practice economy Of tha
most rigid sort Worse still, the iew men
who come i'll to take the offices Will have
no money to spend TIL they have saved some
out of their salaries, and about That time they
i'll turn will hrgIn to ct scared iuto hoard