Daily Republican., 1889-03-06
President Iarrison's First Words.


President Harrison's First Words.
N. Y. Herald.
President Harrison's inaugural address
strikes us as the deliverance Of an entirely
sincere and extremely clear-miDded man,
who has faith enough In his political be- |
liefs to say what he thinks and who has
no after thoughts or reserves. In that re
spect and In soHe others 1t is q very
notable utterance.
Il Is the first message in recent times
In which President has planted himself
and his party squarely on protective
tariff policy. There is not in what Mr..
Harrison says on this subject that uncer-
tain sound which in Grant, In Ha, es, In
Garfield, In Arthur and In Cleveland
vexed and dsgusted alike both protec-
tionists and free-traders.
President Harrison is a protectionist,
and following his own political faith and
the impulse Of party chiefs he makes the
Issue OF protection so clearly and posi-
lively that II his party should hereafter
attempt to run away from It they would
have to run away from him also. He COM
mits his party so decidedly to ths princl-
pies and practice Of protective tariff
that, uutil the issue between protection
and FREQ trade is decided, 1t must, we
think, remain the one question on which
parties VIII divide. The new President
speaks so clearly as to leave no room
hereafter for evasion on either side. As
his party stands by him, we ought to
have, hencefortO, no more hypnorisy on
this subject, whether In Democratic Mills
bills or In straddling Republican plat
forms.
1t seems to us that Democratic free
traders, no less than Republican protec
ti0nlets, will be profoundly grateful to
Mr. Harrison for this. He aims to rid
| our politics OF nau eous cant, which has
dlsgusted every voter OF both parties Tor
years. It is as when Mr.. Lincoln declared
that this Union must be either all free or
all slave, but could not remain partly
both. Mr.. Harrison has cleared the DO
liticai atmosphere.
His appeal to Southern protectionists
to vote US they think is well put, aud his
suggestion to them that they have at
baud In tho colored voters a support
mIrably polite. The Herald does not
agree with Mr.. Harrison in his admira-
ton of protective TARIFF; but II he shall
succeed during his four years In breaking
up the "Solid south" and setting opinion
there as free as II Ia in the N nth, we shall
not grudge four years OF high tariff,
What he says on other subjects Mr..
Harrison says well, moderately and
modestly. His foreign policy will not I've
ehily-shally, inviting European agrees
sion on this continent, but neither will 1t
be bullying or "Jingo." His words on
this subject will have the assent of citi-
zons OF all parties.
Like Mr.. Cleye and, and before him
Mr.. Arthur, Mr.. Harrison announces 20
Southern policy. This will b, sore dis
appointing mt to good many demagogues
10 the Southern States who have oil late
raised their voices In pretended alarm.
~ have altogether rejected the susges-
ton of special Executive policy for
any section of our country" be says.
What he further adds on this subject
is well worth tho attentive reading of
citizens in both sections. We think him
very wise when he says, I'll in any States
the public security is thought to be
threatened by ignorance among the cleo
.tors the obvious remedy is education.
The sympathy and help OF our people
will not be withheld from any community
struggling with special EN- barrassments
or difficulties connected with the suffrage
II the remedies proposed proceed upon
lawful lines and are promoted by just
and honorable methods"
He desires to soc the naturalization
laws so amended as to Keep out OF tue
country persons not an advantage to 1t
as citizens. He would use the surplus to
build up "strong navy" aud he fayors
subsidies for American merchant vessels,
as was to be expected from protec-
ZIONIST he asks ofilce-Beekers and their
friends to be cautions and moderate
In their demands upon him; declares
his intention to carry on the reform of
the civil service, but judicousiy adds:
1.-THE ideal, or even my own ideal,
shall probably not attain. Retros pect
will be safer basis of judgment tn an
promises"
President Harrison's inaugural address
Is an eminently readable one, because It
is q conspicuously honest state paper. 1t
is not necessary to agree with his policies
to give it this approval. Men must differ
in opinions and policies, but he wins the
gratitude of opponents who states his
case clearly and frankly, and does not
condescend to bubble, sophistry, evasion
or double dealing In that view we say
that Mr.. Harrison yesterday spoke, not
as politician, hut as a statesman.
The Herald wishes the new President
success in his new administration.