New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-11
WORK ACCOMPLISHED.

papcrs sneers at the dO-nothing character OF
President Harrisons Administration. The
most preiudiced and tho most unObservant
have come to realize that this Administration
is doing things which will long be remembered.
But when one starts to review in brief the work
it has accomplished, he is staggered to find it
a very much harder task than he had imagined.
The achievements have been so numerous and
so varied that within ordinary compass it is
possible barely to mention only part OF them
1t has been an Administration full of wise
suggestions. Not all of its important sugges-
tions have borne fruit in Congressional acts,
but not the least of its service has been that
executive endeavors have helped much valuable
legislation, and prevented some that would have
been pernict0us. Only the prospect of a veto
made certain the defeat of free coinage, and
substituted the measure under which practically
all silver from American mines is now taken
for monetary use. In the revision of the tariff,
the reduction of revenue, the meat inspection
bill the creation of the Agricultural Depart
ment and defining of its powers, and many
other measures the influence OF the Admins
tration has been helpful.
During thirty months since President Har-
rson was inaugurated six new States have
been added to the Union, great progress has
been made in restoring free government and
uprooting polygamy in Utah, and the Terri
tory of Oklahoma has been opened to settle
ment. Threatened wars with the Indians have
been averted, and treaties negotiated by which
vast tracts of land have been added to the do
main of civilization. Other large tracts for
merly granted to railroads upon conditions not
fulfilled have been restored to the Nation. A
new pension law, administered in spirit OF
Justice, has removed the eproach that null
titudes Of Union veterans were dependent
upon private charity A new census has been
taken, and political power redistributed by a
new apportiOnment.
One of the earliest steps of the Administla
ton was to prevent fraudulent importation and
differentiation of foreign goods. No measure
of the value of this service to the business
world is possible but all know that it has been
great. BY earnest efforts of the Administra-
ton, the customs administrative act was sep
aratey passed, and has been so enforced that
frauds are more infrequent and less harmful
than they had been for many years. In the
creation of the new Department of Agriculture
the President succeeded in finding a Secretary
full of enthusiasm and knowledge for the work,
who has already made its value recognized by
millions of farmers. The meat inspection bill
was distinctly an Administration measure, and
is working great good. The reorganization of
the Signal Service under charge Of the same
Depa tment is already placing greatly needed
information before farmers.
OF improvements in the Postal Service in
the Interior Department, and Of the rapid
progress in creating a new navy, there is
scarcely space TO speak Sometimes Pres
dent succeeds only because he finds an excep-
tional man to conduct particular branch of
the service When Secretary Window had
quickly gained the confidence of the whole
business world by wise management in times
of need, and suddenly died after an address Of
surprising power and usefulness, some doubted
whether his place would be as well filed as it |
has been by Secretary Foster. In two years
and a half the Administration has paid off
S243,151,100 of the bonded debt, or about
500, 900, 900 yearly it has helped the coun-
try through extraordinary financial difficulties !
and prevented disaster, and with a revenue
sufficient for all needs taxation has been re-
duced more than So yearly for every family.
The revision Of the tariff, so earnestly urged |
by the President has within a few months |
caused hundreds of new works TO spring up in |
every part of the country, and brought mar
yellous prosperity instead of great depression |
to important industries. To the tobacco-rais-
ing farmers of Connecticut, New-Yor and |
other States it has been worth several millions |
already, and also to the producers of barley, |
Of eggs and of vegetables for seaboard mar
kets This great measure followed the worsted- !
woolens bill, which was of instant benefit 10
100000 people engaged in manufactures, and /
to a far greater number of wool growers The |
benefits of these measures the country is only /
just beginning to realize.
1t is in foreign affairs that the Administra- |
ton has achieved lis most striking triumphs !
1t found quarrel with Germany about Samoa. |
and quickly settled it with honor. Ii brought |
together Congress of American Nations, and |
results of vast importance are following. IL
urged the reciprocity clause OF the Tariff bill, |