The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-24
THE PRESIDENTS VISIT.

Tomorrow evening, amid the thunder of
cannon and in the glare of a million oflights,
the President Of the United States will ar
rive In san Francisco. VIVA: with the crowds
that viii gather at every available point on
the march, the cangor of brass bands and
the dazzling effect Of the illumination, the
scene will he one that viii leave an mper-
iShable stamp on the memory. 1t will prob
ably surpass in splendur the reception of
General Grant The Presidents first view of
the city will be the one which always strikes
strangers as SC striking and admirable. He
viii see San Francisco from the deck of the
ferry-boat at Oakland, from which point the
streets look like parallel streams of fire flow
ing down the hill slope into the bay; on each
elevation bonfres will simulate volcanoes in
eruption, while the Illuminated craft in the
bay viii resemble fleets of war vessels in
action. It is safe TO say Mr.. Harri son has
never seen such a spectacle in his life.
Crowds lie has seen many times, and has
often heard the night air sOnOrous with
martial music. But city camped on hills,
spreading seven miles from the bay to the
ocean, touched with fire at every salient
point, and filed with shouts from a hun
bred thousand thrOats, and detOnatiOnS from
millions Of explosives, is, we venture to say,
4 spectacle which he has never witnessed
before.
The reception will be non-partisan-a
token of respect to the most lofty station to
which an American citizen may aspire,
rather than to the eminent citizen who now
fills that station. Among the crowds that
viii greet Mr.. Harrison with cheers will be
nearly as many voters who voted against him
as voters who gave bin their support. A
sf,If -ef,r, dali, hf,
rather than a partisan affair. We can re-
call but one instance in which the latter
characteristic predominated, and that led to
the impeachment of the President who was
SO unwi5e as to attempt it. When the Presi-
dent steps out Of the White House, and
goes forth to meet his countrymen, he adj
dresses them not as Republicans or Demo-
Gratis, but as citizens Of the United States,
and they stretch forth the hand of welcome
not to a partisan, but to the Chief Magis-
tTate.
This does not imply, as some of cur CO.
temporaries seem to imagine, that in the
brief speeches which are expected OF a tour
ing President he should copfne himself to
non-committal statements of platitudes.
When he speaks he is expected to say some
thing on the topics of the day, and surely it
is unreasonable that he should ignore the
faith that is in him and say the thing which
he does not believe. It was expected of Mr..
Harrison in the South that he would I'M
burden his mind On the questions which in
terest the Southern people. He is known to
entertain fixed and decided opinions on
those questions. Which was best, that he
should, OF this occasion. hide those opinions
under bushel and take as his model Mr..
Faeing-both-ways or that he should frankly
say that in his judgment, the policy of the
Ffty-frst Congress commanded his APP
proval as being better calculated than any
other to promote the prosperity of the
country?
In all the speeches which Mr.. Harrison
has made during the past fortnight-35OO
miles of talk, as he himself describes 1.-THE
has said nothing that can provoke just criti-
cism. He has spoken his mind freely and
frankly yet temperately. He has uttered
no word that could anger or wound a pollti-
cal opponent. He declared to the people of
Texas, who are free-traders by an over
whelming majority, that in his opinion pro-
lection would be to their advantage and he
gave his reasons. He is entitled to hold
that opinion and it was proper that he
should express it when he happened to be
brought face to face with the people of
Texas. Throughout his journey he has pur-
sued the same course, evading no topic
through tiInidity or policy and yet phrasng
his language with such dexterity that he
offended no one. He doubtless mapped out
this course when he started and will adhere
to it here. Itshould insure for him q cordial
reception from men of all shades of political
faith.