Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-12-03
The Presidents Bourbontsm.
From Ge Baltimore Sm.

Harrison That the result OF those elections
might h2ve some influence upon The recon-
mendations Of the message OF Us treatment
of some of the questions and m,esurcs upon
which the American people srs supposed to
have expressed their opinion ia November
would mo-, have been unrcaso a1le % eX-
pect. II there be any persons s'i cherish
ed such au expectation. hoWcy hey will
find themselves disappointed acre is not
one syllable in the message 20 Indicate that
President Harrison attaches the smallest
importance or significance 10 the expression
of the opinions of a majority Of 10000 Of
his couutrymen upon the ccdduci Of his ad
minisiralion or The work o. the Fiity-trst
Congress in It's first session. Only one thing
is evident, aud that is that Mr.. Harrison
does not agree with the majority Of his Tel
low countrymen. He congntulates the
Copgrrss aud the country upon the passage
of the first session of the Fifty first Congress
of an unusual number of laws Of very high
Importance. He urges Congress TO perse
we're in the work OF legislation so suspicious
ly begun. aud says that he refrainS from Of
fering some suggestions, that otherwise he
might be disposed 20 make, for fear OF in
terrupting or ret,rding the good work, aud
earnestly iuvnkes attention 20 the duty Of
preleriug the important legislation now well
advanced. and winds up with the state
ment that if the duty be discharged with
diligence and courage "the work of the FIT
~ FIRST Congress may be confidently sub
mitted To- the considerable in gmeut OF the
people" From the Pr sidents point of
view the result Of the November elections
was not "the con- .ierable judgment of the
people. or was a mere accident, destitute Of
any Political significance Whatever
In regard TO the new tariff act better
known TO the country As the Mckinley bill,
the President does no even agree with his
secretary of State as to the effect it will pro
duce in opening foreign ports and markets
TO American products. He says: so far
from being an act to limit exports, conf
IDENTIFY believe that under it We shall secure
a larger and nose profitable participation in
foreign trade than We have ever enjoyed, and
that we shall recover proPortionate par
ticipation in the ocean-carrying trade of the
world" This is not only quite different
ON the view expressed by Nr Blaine. but
it Is equally contrary 10 the hopes and ex-
pectations Of Mr.. Mckinley, who did not
hesitate TO declare his preference for the
home market over the foreign market for
the American producer The Presidents
rooted antipatby TO 'cheapness" crops out
curipusly in the suggestion that other infu-
encrs have been at work beside the tariff to
cause an advance in prices. "rhe enlarge
meut of our currency" he says, "by the sill
yer bin undoubtedly gave an upward ten
deucv % trade, aud had - market effect on
prices. but TIN, natural and desired effect Of
the silver .egi,latiou was by many errone-
ousy attributed TO the tariff act
Considerable space ia the latter part of
the message Is devoted to labored and dis
ingenious plea in favor of the passage Of
the force bill The President indulges in IA
number Of platitudes upon the subject Of
free aud honest elections aid the interest of
every state aud section IN The suppression
Of lawle,nes- aud crime, and then urgueS
that because we had a federal election law
upon the statute book for twenty years.
placed there during the troubled "recon-
struct.on" period Immediately succeeding
the civil war. therefore 81 ought to have a
more stringent and offensive law enacted
now. lie saws zone cannot be justly charg
cd with unfriendline>s 10 any section or
elias, who seeks only to restrain violations
of law and of personal r'ght" lie omits to
state what part'cula violations of law and
of personal right require 50 imperaiively
the enlargement at this time of the powers
and remedies given by the existing provi-
sious of the Revised Statutes of the United
States. enacted, as he says, twenty years
ago.
The only defect in the present law which
he specifies is that it leaves ia the hand of
the local or state authorities, where IL had
rested since the day the constitution WAS
adopted. the power of certifying the result
of the election which gives the prime toeie
right 90 a seat ia the House Of Representa-
t.yes. Thi, power Mr Harrison wishes To
nave transferred % the Federal supervisors
As there will be no election for Representa-
tive, i'm Congress until 1892. at which time
thr election tor President also takes place,
i 3, impossible 20 re>is; the conclusion that
Mr. Harrison's solicitude for the passage of
the force bin at this time arise. from ,he
desire o. control the election machinery
upon which his own reelection as PreSi-
lent. it he should be the candidate of the
Republican party again, may depend. In
the same spirit Mr. Harrison urges upon
Congress the Importance of passing the re-
appor,ionment bill at the present session,
duty which can be Just as well left 70 the
next Congress These two recommendations
Of the Prcsidrut-to pass the force bill and
the re-apportioument bill before the 4th of
March-are the cnly indications the mes
sage affords that che news Of the November
elections has penetrated the White House,