New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-05

vention which will be taken up To-Day
THE ADMINISTRATIONS FIRST YEAR
With the beginning of this month the first
year of Benjamin Harrison's term OF ONCE as
President of the United States is ended, and
point is reached from which critical glance
at his Administration may be conveniently
taken. Government in the United States Is in
one sense a simple problem We are not occu-
pied with efforts to prevent other nations from
becoming great. We have no territorial am
billions to crafty We have no disposition to
seek interests or qlarrels beyond our own
premises, and no other country sees the wisdom
or advantage of quarrels with us. Our Presl-
dents do not need to play dramatic parts They
are not expected to do any of the striking things
to which kings and emperors are so fond OF
consecrating themselves. 1t is not desired that
they shall be lawgivers or conquering heroes,
but merely that they shall conduct the pubho
business in sensible straightforward eco
nomical way enforcing the laws honestly fear
essly and equally.
The facts will not support any other ]udg-
ment upon President Harrison at this time than
that he has well and faithfully done the duty
that was expected of him. In some respects
his work has been brilliant in all respects 10
has been good and wholesome, and In no re-
spect can it be Justly assalled as harmful or IN
efficient The situation when he took once
was cloudy group of inexperienced states
men had been in charge of affairs Tor Tour
wears with results that were the natural 1rht
of timidity and incompetence. Their one Cd
iect was to introduce a revenue and industrial
system based upon free trade, and TO that
everything else was suboidinated Our in
terest in the Northern fisheries was blipdly
sacrificed Weakness and folly carried us al
most 70 the verge of war with Germany. Desir-
ing 10 build up a new Navy. the Cleveland Adj
mimistration began by repudating contracts ana
by destroying the country's largest shipoulidlng
industry. The revenue laws were so applied
rs 10 put premium upon dishonest mporta-
ton. Millions of money that should have been
appropriated 10 the reduction of the public debt
were handed ont to favored banks that they
might make fortunes at the public expense.
Ranl, decentralization took hold of the poStoffice
system American steamship lines carrying the
mails to foreign countries were uhJustly anu
absurdlv Disseminated against, and fortune
in public money was spent TO break them down
and to build up foreign carriers And all the
while the Civil Service was being filled mp with
incompetent persons and prosttuted to political
ends.
President Harrison, though he has been In
office only twelve months has made il possible
TO draw q gratifying contrast to this picture OF
maladministralon He is eminently practical
man. candid direct resoute and sincere. He
did not need TO spend half his term making
G ! IL. md f.
fairs. and the other half vainly trying to undo
his earlier mistakes. He understood the coun-
fry and all IFS sectional interests He surround
ed himself with able advisers, men OF reputa-
ton and experience each admirably htted
bv training and taste for his particular work
The result has been harmonious, active Ad-
ministration, sure Of what il needed 10 do and
of how il needed TO be done. Secretary Banes
conduct Of the State Department has already
reflected the highest credit upon the country
abroad. So soon as his Sagacious policy had
replaced the dull aims and timld methods OF
Mr. Bayard our disturbed foreign relations
were easily settled. The Samoan troubles were
promptly arranged in treaty which secures all
our rights and at the same time restores our
good understanding with Germany The Bnt-
ish Extraditi0n Treaty with which Mr.. Bayard
bungled and failed is to-day law, and in
form much more comprehensive and useful than
that previously proposed. Secretary Window
has restored the efficiency Of the customs ser
vice has Withdrawn in large measure the loans
81 unwarrantably made to favored banks, has
appropriatcd considerable portion of tho
surplus revenue TO the reduction of the public
debt npon terms much better than those Sc
cured by bis predecessor and has proposed
| silver policy much commended for its practical
| bity and wisdom The Navy Department
under Secretary Tracy has taken great strides
toward that efficiency so loudly demanded by
| the country. The work Of construction moves
forward with marvellous vigor and the original
methods adopted, together with the wise pol
icies proposed, have gratifed the country and
inspired the service. In the War Department,
| in the Department Of Justice and OF Agrcult-
ure. striking reforms have been adopted and a
vast amount of work performed The Interior
| Department and the POsoffcc have fully re-
covered their strength and efficiency. In the
Pension Office, Land Office and Indian Office
new methods and policies of the highest value
have been nauguratcd, and the Civil Service
has been maintained free of partisan evils.
| This is a good praiseworthy record. 1t en-
| titles the President TO the thanks and the full
| confidence of the country.
|