Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-03-20
New York Tribune.
The Administration's First Year.

With the beginning of this month the
first year of Benjamin Harrison's term of
office As President of the Uuited States Ia
ended, and u point Is reached from which
critical glance at his Administration may
be conveniently taken. Government IN
the United States is in one sense q simple
problem. We are not occupied with efforts
to prevent other nations from becoming
great. We have no territorial ambitions
to crafty. We have no disposition to
seek interests or quarrels beyond our own
premises, aud no other country sees the
wisdom or advantage of quarrels with Us.
Our Presidents do not nee / to play dramatic
parts. They are not expected 10 do any
Of the striking things 10 which kings and
emperors are so fond of consecrating
themselves. 1t is not desired that they
shall be lawgivers or conqueriug heroes.
but merely that they shall conduct the
public business in a sensible, straight
forward, economical way, enforcing the
laws honestly, fearlessly and equally.
The facts will not support aBy other
judgment 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 brill
liant. IN all respects 1t has been good and
wholesome, and IN no respect can Ii be
justly as>ailed as harmful or inefficient.
he situation when he took office was
cloudy. group of inexperienced states
men had been IN charge OF affairs for four
years with results that were the natural
iruit of timidity and incompetence. Their
one object was TO introduce a revenue and
Industrial system based upon free trade,
and to that everything else was suhordi-
mated. Our interest IN The Northern fisher
les was bllndly sacrificed. Weakness and
folly carried Us almost TO the verge Of war
with Germany. Desiring To build up a new
Navy, the Cleveland Administration began
hy rcpudiatin. contracts aud by destroying
lht country's largest shipbuildiug industry.
The revenue laws were 80 applied as 10
put premium upon dishonest importa-
lion Millions of money that should have
been appropriated to the reduction Of the
public debt were handed out to favored
banks that they might make fortunes at
the public expense. Rank Generalization
took hold Of the po>totlice system. Ameri-
can steamship lines carving the mails TO
foreign countries we've unju-ty and ab-
>urdly Disseminated against and fortune
IN public money was spent to break them
down and 10 build up foreign carriers
Ani all the while the cvil Service was
being flied up with incompetent person,
aud pru>litutcd to political ends
President Harrison, though he has been
in 0iiicc only twelve months has made II
possible "a draw a gratifying contrast To
Tins picture of maladmni>tralion. Tie j.
cmihentiy practical man, candid, direct,
rr>olute mud sincere Tie did not need tp
>pcnd hall his term making the aCquaint-
auCc of public men and public affair-. and
lhr other half vainly trying To undo hi
earlier mistakes. ilr understood the cuun-
tly aud all IT, sectional Interests. He sur
rounded himself with able advisers, men
of reputation and experience, each ad-
muahly ttlcd by training and taste for his
particular work The result has been
harmonious, active Administration. sure OF
" hat it needed To do and of how 1t needed
To- be done. Secretary Blane's conduct OF
The State Department ha~ already reflected
the highest credit upon the country abroad.
50 soon n his sagaCious policy had re
placed the dull aims and tmid methods of
Mr. Bayard our disturbed foreign relations
acre easily settled The samoan trou-
ole> were promptly arranged in treaty
which secures all our rights and at the
same time restores our good understand
Ing with Germany The British Extradi-
ton Treaty with which Mr, Bayard bun
: ed and failed, j. to-day a law and in a
form much more comprehensive aDL use
rotary " Inuoiu mas re>toTru tnr vfItC iehI
OF the custom, service mas withdrawn in
large measure the loans 80 UNIV arrantably
made to favored banks. has appropriated
n considerable portion of the surplus rev
cnuc 10 the reduction Of the public debt
upon terms much better than those seCur-
ci by his predecessors and has proposed a