New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-17
~ ex,ent at q disadvantage. The Senator's

certain extent at q disadvantage. The senator's
version of the affair nearly always is given with
ell the color of disappointment The frcsidehVs
side of the case is almost never given. NO fres
dent has ever made less use of his personal power
in this regard than President Harrison In the
history of no Administration has the recommend
alton of the Congressional delegations had more
weight than with this Administration Senators
are difficult men for any President to please lhey
want their own way in all things, and to Them an
ideal President would be a who would hum
bly and deferentally act as amanuensis to record
the decree Of their imperious Wills.
OF the several opportunities have had Tor talk
ing with the President there is none / remember
with more distinctness than the last interview
had lust before his departure for week Of duck
sbootinr in MARYLAND Although the President is
averse to being quoted and invincibly opposed to
ANYTHING taking the form of official or formal
interview for newspaper publication, yet am sure
he will not seriously object to my reproduction OF
the sum and substance of this particular CONVEX
saton. as it runs over only the general topics OF
The dav. contains no personalities, or even SEMI
confidential things.
WORK OF A REMARKABLE CONGRESS.
Standing upon the rug in front of the open fire
with his hands deeply buried in his pockets, the
President talked in direct and forcible fashion
about the work of the Administration during the
winter, the Congress just gone, and incidentally
upon the work of the future.
The President was first asked what he Thought
Of the work of the List Congress. lie SAID Ill
many ways it has been most remarkanie 'oh-
gress It's work has been of the most important
character The work has been done In the lace
of tremendous criticism and the legislation eVoNeo
has been the outgrowth of fierce contentious Inc
result is one that will stand well IN history, ana
one which the country will approve. The prlhci-
pie of majority rule has also been asserted In a
marked degree and an adherence to that rule is,
in my Judgment the one principle which Will pre-
serve the institutions of our country The Presl-
dent added, in following out this line OF thought
That the majority shall rule is an underlying
principle of our institutions. 1t is what has con-
tributed in the past security, and it is the
only guarantee in the future for our safety The
minute you pass from that and concede the NIL
nority rule YOU 90 TO chaos and confusion Some
of the ferccst OF contentious in Congress have
been made in the vain attempt upon the part OF
the minority to control the action OF the maJonty.
ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION BILL
The President was asked il he thought the Re
nubIicars would make the issues involved in the
Election bill prominent in future campaigns
The President said: "You will find therein
the some principc-a guarantee Of the rule or the
majority. II will not do for the people of any
section 10 say that they must be let alone that "
is n local question TO be settled by the States OF
whether we shall have honest elections or not
This might he said if it were not for the TACT that
the principle is at issue in National elections, ana
that the inequality upon the floor Of the House OF
Representatives is so great that II cannot oe IL
norcd Whether it shall become dominant issue
in the immediate campaign or in the near future
is n question for the public to determine. III oe-
nen0s mon how much the public conscience Is
ouickened regarding the principle OF right IN
question Of whether the northern part OF the coun
fry will consent to such inequality OF repr s'htltIo"
in the administration of National aHalrs' INES
attempt upon the part Of the minority 10 RUE
the majority is constantly appearing III Naiiou'
rorts Of the country. Take my own State OF In
diana There we have such gerrymander thao IL
we were to carry the State tomorrow by the popu-
~, ,o.o If ton thousand majority we could not Sc
cure more than two or possibly three, Representa-
+;ves in Congress and the Democrats would have
nont,ol of tho Legislature. There the VIII OF the
majority is oyerruled and by an improper manlpu-
,ation the rule of the minority is made possioe,
These are questions for the people 70 take up anu
determine II is not question OF secuohaiis'n'
il is question Of principle and OF business ho'-
estv. The principle Of majority represen,a'io"
has to great degree prevailed IN congress ouiins
,ho ,ost two sessions and therefore will have eood
;ererce nnon the public in calling their ATTENTION
10 the Importance of this issue
EXTENDING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
asked the President if he was pleased with the
a,o civen nv Congress to the shipping interest OF
the country with view TO the carrying ouO VI
the recprocity policy of the Administration
The President said "Yes, I am very much
plcased. What was passed by Congress was
about all thought was practical and al tha'
could no safely accomplished a preliminary
step In attempting anything new it is important
to be conservative and to avoid extremes
have always thought it best to begin with the
steamship lines They afford swift and rapid
transit. They have the carrying of the Govern
mont mails and are important elements in bring
inc us in touch with countries with which we
are seeking TO improve our trade relations. Inc
importance of this is shown in the enlarged COM
merce which always follows the establishment
of new steamer connections between different coun-
tries The people of this country have long re-
parded the South American countries as remote.
This is on account Of their not being provided with
easy and rapid methods of communication WIN
this country. Whether it will he practical 70 go
bevona the steamer lines and give aid to the sail
ing vessels will be for the future to determine.
am not now prepared to say whether this VIII
he 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 revenue
from foreign mails provides to-day surplus OF
over Sl,5OO,OOO. We do not care to make money
out Of our postal service, and this is sum that
can properly he used for the encouragement of
quick means Of communication with the Sonth.
The theory of the postal service is not a money
making one. Where it can be conducted without
loss it is, of course well. But that question
has never been considered in the history
of the Department. IL has always been
an arm extended to advancing civilization
in the most distant and barren regions
| remember Noticing several wears ago ON