The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-03-09

President Harrison's inaugural address
is straightforward temperate state paper.
Il ls chiefly notable for the absence OF In
dividual forcefulness and Of positive or az
grsssive assertion, but 1t is equally remark
able a. Presidential deliverance that studi-
ously avoids offenso to any honest convict
ions. Indeed, had Cleveland bsen reelected
he could have delivered Harrison's inaug-
ural address without criticism from his
Democratic supporters.
On the vital tariff, tax and surplus ques-
tions, he simply repeats Cleveland's utter
ance In general terms, excepting only that
Harrison makes protection more promi-
neDt feature Of his revenue faith, while
Cleveland maintained the protection of la
Dor As an indispensable incident Of our
tariff policy but Cleveland could fulfil every
promise Of Harrlson's inaugural in entire
consistency with his policy that was appa-
rently condemned by his defeat.
On the important question Of civil service
reform the declarations of Harrison are all
that could be asked of him and they bear
every mark Of sincerity. Unless he does not
mean what he says, which 10 not to be as
sumsd, he gives plain admonition TO party
expectants that the ''clean-swsep" policy is
not to be accepted by his administration. BE
10 honest enough to say that party services
shall not be an. obstacle to administration
favor, but he distinctly declares that the
efficiency and integrity Of the public service
mus. be paramount. He does not deal with
the question in glitterning platitudes, but
he emphasizes his pledge not only to enforce
the civil service law in its letter and spirit
but expresses the confident hope that hii
civil service referm shall transcend the man
dates of the law.
There will be hearty accord Throughout
the whole country with his temperate ant
sensible expressions as to our foreign policy
He could have been more explicit in his re-
ference to the Samoa difficulty, but he covers
every feature of the controversy and obvious
" meant to be clearly understood as to the
rights and duties Of our government. Re
dueed into somewhat palmer English, the
President gives notice that our rights IL
Samoa are to be fully maintained and tn a
Germany will be commanded to halt thu
moment that she attempts to usurp author
ity.
The questions OF the surplus, Of pensions
Of commerce and Of honest elections are al
treated very temporarily from general stand
points, and they may be interpreted to NEAR
much or little. The one feature Of the ad
dress on all these points is the absence OF in
clsive or aggressive arraignmeut or remedy
but as this feature prevails throughout tht
message from the first to the last line ther'
is little room for criticism from any source
The keynote of the whole paper seems to b
given in the sentence-''Let us exalt patri
otism and moderate our party contentious,
and there will be little disposition to com
plain Of the address by any party. unless th'
expectants and spoilsmen shall confess Il
disappointment
Unlike most inaugural addresses, the ad
dress of President Harrison leaves much Il
conjecture as to the general features Of hi
public policy. It has none Of the assertiv
tone that many predicted and feared; ther
isnothing in IL that foreshadows q persona
policy on any issue; and the only apprehen
sion that 10 likely to be cherished is tha
there may be q lack of the individual fore
that is indispensable to any successful I'D
ministration. But conjecture on that poin
Is needless at this time. So far as Presiden
Harrison has expressed his view of Execu
tive duties, he has made his deliverance a
free from objections as any like addret
that has ever come to the American people
and 1t is fair that he should be commende
aud sustained so long as he shall sustal
the fairly interpreted pledges of his inaul
ural. He starts we'll; let him be faithf'
to himself.-Phild. Times.
THE NEW CABINET.
The Harrison Cabinet stands az follow
State--James G. Blaine, Maine.
Treasury-Willlam Window, MINI esoti
War-Redfield Proctor, Vermont.
Navy Benjamin F. Tracy. New York.
Interior--John W. Noble. Missouri.
Post Office-John Wanamaker, Penn.
Atty. General-W. ii. II. Miller, Indian
Agriculture Jere. Rusk, Wisconsin.