Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-03
idea that such change has actually been
made
AN ExTKAoRpTNARY INDICTMENT.

There is large amount of instructive
material for reflection on the habits and
character of the genus politician in the
! reasons blazoned forth in the Washington
correspondence Of yesterdays DISPATCH
why the denomination of Harrison will
not do. That it will not do there seems
to be general agreement outside of the
/ immediate Harrison entourage; but the
discovery of the fact by the political man.
ayers is accompanied by reasons which,
| while by no means original, are quite in
| teresttng
The explanation is that Harrison is too
cold. He does not grasp the visiting
wheelhorse by the hand and bubble over
with inquiries as to what particular morsel
of Government patronage the visitor has
marked out for himself OF next friend
He does not overflow with urbanity, and
send the caller away with the proud re-
Election that he is among the osestfriends
of the Chief Executive. On the contrary
he has committed the political offense OF
preserving his dignity, and has gone near
TO perpetrating the party treason OF being
reserved.
These be grave matters, but somehow
we fail to recognize them as infiictlng
actual political disabilities. We have yet
to learn that the American people are so
enamored of the politicians professional
friendship for the whole human race-so
long as it is enfranchised-that they can
not forgive mitigation of it in the Presi-
dent. As to the offenses of dignity and
reserve it happened to be the fact that
other and very successful political leaders
have exhibited the same qualities. Presl-
dent Arthur was somewhat favorably
known for the dignified bearing of his Off
cial life; and while he did not get second
term, no one ever heard that it was on
account of his dignity. Reticence may be
all wrong; but our own Matthew Stanley
Quay, who is among those urging this OBJ
lection to Harrison, is somewhat noted for
a successful holding of his tongue, unless
there is positive point to be gained by
speaking. While the other Senator from
Pennsylvania has held down a Senatorial
seat these twelve years without saying
much either in or out of the Senate.
The fact is that the gravest objections
to Harrison are such as the practical poll
ticians cannot, comfortably to themselves,
admit; and so they bring up the rather
familiar charge of coldReSs. 1t is to be
remembered that the Democratic poll
ticians made the same complaint against
even the rotund predecessor of Harrison
when they drew unlimited drafts on his
power of patronage. But while this COM
plant is common to all spoilsmen it is not
the real reason why President Harrison is
not eligible for denomination. 1t would
be impossible for the Republican poll
ticians to admit that the policy of the ad-
ministration has been narrow except
where Secretary Blaine has put breadth
and vigor into it; that petty jealousies
have cropped out of the Presidents ap-
pointments to important places as well as
Haunting themselves in his family organs;
that the President failed to interpOse the
check that was in his power upon the
reckless extravaganza of Congress; and
that he has permitted politicians of the
Clarkson stripe to distribute patronage at
in defiance of the civil service
reform pledges of the Republican party as
well as of the President
IF President Harrison could be charged |
with nothing more than cOldness and re-
serve, he would be very much more |
eligible candidate for the Presidency than
he is at present.