Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-02
HIue Tor Harrison.

lis President Harrison liable to with
draw from the presidential racer" asks
the Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald. And he then answers:
Ask this question of score Of republi
can politicians and they would unhestat
ingly chorus No" They know that the
president desires denomination more
than he desires anything on earth, and
they cannot conceive any contingency that
might make his withdrawal probable.
And yet this contingency exists 1t is
the passage of free coinage bill which
the president would feel obliged TO veto
He is reasonably firm in his purpose 10
veto a bill for unrestricted free coinage,
but he feels that such vote might com.
pei him TO decline denomination.
He appreciates the fact that the silver
sentiment in his party is very strong, and
that if it is alienated the party may be
wrecked in h number of the big western
states. The dominant sentiment in the
party in such states as Ono, Indiana and
Illinois is against free coinage, but there
is enough free coinage sentiment to leave
the republicans in the minority if the free
coinage element deserts them.
The president hopes BY appealing to
party fealty to prevent the passage of a
free coinage bill through the senate. If
be can escape the necessity of positive
declaration on the subject he believes he
can be reelected. but be realizes that the
veto of a free coinage bill will make sue
cess doubtful in all the Pacific states and
in half of the western states.
If be should Withdraw under such Cir
cumstances the party would still be abe
TO nominate an opponent of absolute
free coinage, provided his opposition Was
not plainly declared.
Mojor Mckinley, who voted for the
Bland bill and for the silver measure of
last summer, would be good candidate
of this sort, or perhaps Senator Allison
or General Alger. Even Secretary
Blaine would be able to conceal his
views sufficiently to keep the silver men
in line. He talked to the Boston delega
ton which was here last winter TO OPP
pose free coinage as though he was in
entire sympathy with their purposes, but
he has always been favorite of the west
and trimmer on the silver question. He
could be trusted, if anyone could, to say
nothing or to say something that cou
be interpreted in the right way TO please
his party both east and west
The necessity for the withdrawal of
the president in case he is compelled to
veto free coinage bill has been openly
discussed between him and his intimate
friends, and is by no means matter of
pure speculation. The president has
naturally not committed himself abso-
lutely upon the subject, and the glamour
of another term may blind his eyes to the
danger as the time for nomination draws
near. He is supremely anxious at pres
emit TO escape the necessity of facing a
free coinage measure, but it is almost
certain that it will pass both houses un-
less the democratic leaders in the house
decide to postpone the subject until after
the presidential election"
There is no reason to suppose that the
democratic leaders in the house will do
anything of the kind. as the Dubuque
Telegraph says, and if they should, the
house of the FiftY-third congress would
not be democratic. President Harrison
will be given chance TO officially declare
whether on the currency question he is
with the masses or Wall street.