Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-17
A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.
The Work Of the Administrators ana q
COngress Reviewed.

A TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.
The Work Of the Administrsaiou ana q
Congrsss Reviewed.
rHr PhEsrDExr skrs THE WORK or THR coxoRKa
JUST ENDED Has BEEN OF A MOST IMPORTANT
cnARAcrER-rHR ELEcriox BILL. TIE SUR
saDr QUESTION, FREE COINAGE, ETC.
Mr.. T. c. Crawford reports in the New York
Tribune today recent interview he had with
President Harrison. He writes:
Standing upon the rug in front of the open
6re with his hands deeply buried in his
pockets, the President talked in a direct and
forciblc fashion about the work of the admin
istration during the winter, the Congress Just
gone, and incidentally upon the work of the
future.
The President was fret asked what he thought
Of the work of the Fifty-frst Congress. He
said: ''In many ways il has been most re-
markable Congress- It's work has been of the
most important character. The work has been
done in the face Of tremendous criticism, and
the legislation evolved has been the outgrowth
OF fierce contentious. The result lie one that
will stand well in history. and one which the
country viii approve. The principal of major
ity rule has also been asserted in a marked de-
gree, and an adherence to that rule is in nv
Judgment the ore principle which will pre-
serve the institutions of our country" The
President added. in following out this line of
thought: That the majority shall rule 10 an
underlying principle of our Institutions. II is
what has contributed in the past TO our secu-
rlty, and II is tho only guarantee in the fu-
ture for our safety. The minute you pass from
that and concede the minority rule You go to
chaos and confusion. Some of the fercest of
COnteQtlOnR Copprass hava heep aada int ha
vain attempt upon the part Of the minority TO
control the action Of the majority"
ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION BILL
The President was asked if he thought the
republicans would make the issues involved
in the election bill prominent in future cam
paigns.
The President said: "You will find therein
the same principle guarantee of the rule Of
the majority. II will not do for the people of
any section to say that they must be
let alone, that it is local question TO
be settled by the states of whether we shall
have honest elections not. This might be
said If 1t were not for the fact that the princi-
pie Is at issue in national elections. and that
the inequality upon the floor of the House Of
Representatives is SO great that it cannot be ig-
nored. Whether il shall become a dominant
issue In the immediate campaign or in the near
future il question for the public to deter
mine. 1t depends upon how much the public
eASucS 40 QulchcHcu TeRdIulnR tue Principe
OF right in q question of whether the northern
part OF the country will consent to such in
equality OF representation in the administra-
ton of national affairs. This attempt upon the
part OF the minority to rule the majority is
constantly appearing in various parts of the
country. Takemy own state of Indiana. There
we have such gerrymander that IL We were
to carry the state tomorrow by the popu-
lar vote Of 10000 majority We could not secure
more than two. or possibly three, Representa-
in md he
have control Of the legislature. There the will
OF the majority is overruled and by an
improper manipulation the rule of the minority
is made possible. These questions for the
people to take up and determine. 1t Is not a
question of sectionalism; it is question of
principle and Of business honesty. The prin-
ciple OF majority representation has to a great
degree prevailed in Congress during the last
two sessions and therefore will have n good
influence upon the public in calling their at
tention to the importance Of this ISSUE
ExrESDfNa COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
l asked the President if he was pleased with
the aid given by Congress to the shipping in
terest Of the country with a view to the carry
ing out of the reciprocity policy of the admins
tration.
The President said: Eyes, am very much
pleased: What was passed by Congress was
about all l thought was practical and all that
could be safely accomplished as a preliminary
step In attempting anything new it is i'm
portant to be conservative and to avoid ex-
tremes. have always thought it best to begin
with the steamship lines. They afford
swift and rapid transit. They have the
carrying Of the government mails and
are important elements in bringing us
III touch with countries with which We
are seeking to improve our trade relations.
The Importance of this is shown in the enlarged
commerce which always follows the establish
ment Of new ste"mer connections between diff
ferent countries. The people of this country
have long regarded the South American coun-
tries as remote. This is on account of their
not being provided with easy and rapid
methods OF communication with this country
Whether it will be practical to go beyond the
steamer lines and give aid to the sailing vessels
will be for the future to determine. I am
not now prepared to say whether this will be
wise. The step thus far taken is quite within
the limits OF our present resources. Senator
Frye noted the other day the fact that our rev.
enue from foreign mails provides today a sur
plus of over 81 500, 900. We do not care to
make money out of our postal service, and this
Is a sum that can properly be used for the en-
couragement OF quick means Of communication
with the south. The theory of the postal
service Is not money-making one Where it
can be conducted without a loss it is of
course, well. Blu: that question has never
been considered in the history of the de-
partment 1t has always been an
arm extended to advancing civilization
In the most distant and barren regions. re-
member noticing several years ago on entering
on horseback the Yellowstone Park the working
OF the star route service. Here the representa-.
tive of the Post Office Department penetrates
into the mountains for four days ride with only
two stations for mail delivery, often carrying
through not more than q single letter. II is
this principle of extension of the service which
Justlfes the government in making expendi-
lures in the direction that no private enter
prise could afford to co.