The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-03-27

what Two Years ~ Republican HsAe
Have Done for the Country.

Have Done for the Country.
President Harrison's administration
mas reached its middle term. lie sue
cceded a president who was compara-
lively new to the country and without
experience in the national service pu.
whose personality was incisive, ana
who had done more than any other man
In his party 10 restore Il 70 national
confidence and 70 give Il national
policy. President Harrison's personal
ity has not impressed the country. ne
was familiar with the national service.
he was aparty leader in his state. ana
his grandfather had been president
He was regarded rs trusty party man.
not brilliant. but very sensible VINO
would make a safe IL not dashing CHIEF
magistrate. His election was accom-
plished under circumstances when
plainly suggested 70 the opposition
bargains and corruption. as that OF
Mr.. Cleveland had suggested TO the OPP
position suppression OF suffrage IN
narts 81 the southern states The house
~ representatives elected with Mr.. Har-
rison made Mr.. Reed speaker. The SEN
| ate was already republican. and the al.
| mini stration was wholly in the controi
Of that party The administration
| opened with the usual partisan de-
VISITATION Of that part Of the civil SER
| vice to which the reform law does moi
| apply. The two great party measures
proposed were new tariff and ma
tional election bill. and party fury was
| stimulated by the extraordinary con-
duct Of the speaker of the house In as
sorting extremely arbitrary and ques'
tionable powers
The session Of congress continued IN
ill late in the autumn. The chief IN
terest was the tariff debate with the
massage Of the tariff and the dis
cussion Of the election bill. These re
vealed the fact that Secretary Blain'
differed from other party leaders upor
the kind Of tariff legislation that wa
desirable. and represented an importan
difference in the party: and they Re
vealed also that the election bill wa
not warmly supported by the part,
press. and was condemned by a larg
BODY Of the party. The debate on N
election bill. and the evident republic
AN opposi ton to il in the senate. led !
the suggestion of the introdu'
ton Of the previous quesuo
into the senate, not as pevma
nent modification of the rules, but as
temporary expedicnt 10 pass par'ic'
lar bin which the country had apParen
IL condemned. Meanwhile the geners
course Of events had not favorably IN
PRESSED the country. The circum stance
Of the appointment Of the postmaste
general. the clean sweep" Of his assis
ant. which is no longer an agreeab
performance to the national good sens
the extravagances OF the new 'arii
The performances Of the speaker. II
dislike Of the election bill, the ADM
sion of mining camps" as states an
the consequent strengthening 81 ga
rerous financial schemes, a gener
partisan reclxlessness and sordid ton
accompanied with criticism OF the p
litical opposition as public enemies
these things and such as these 81
turbed and alienated the public mil
until the autumn election.
The result Of the election was an y
precedentcd popular rebuke Of the
ministration. The house was lost BY
great majority. Even republican MAI
aehusetts elected democratic gov'
nor. The author Of the tariff 81
whose name il bore. was defeats
: Politically the election was disastro
y rout for the administration. Judged
: republican canons- i was a lecisl
= popular verdict against the tariff, an
y mandate 10 withdraw the elect
~ bill. But when congress assem- bled
- election bill was urged 10 the exclusl
y az other business. and with an effort
y mass a closure act 10 secure its passa
~ II was strcnuouSly resisted. and fina
~ hailed by a bolt OF republicans; an'
a. similar bolt secured in a republic
~ senate the passage Of free silver &C
~ are bill. and alarmed the entire b.
q. ness community of the country with
&c apprehension Of general disaster.
az complete the tale. the secretary Of
6 treasury fell dead at the end OF q STR
ts and convincing protest against
oi- financial policy which nothing
20 the votes Of his own party friends
q congress and the assent Of the presid
M could make law. During the we
M following the election. also, the Inc
en- troubles drew general attention 70
2 long and fragrant misnanagemen
no Indian affairs. which. although not
ginning with this administration.
not been radically improved under
So the administration reaches its
II. die term. and he must be an enthu'
,er- who supposes that II has strength'
lay its party or secured the confidenc
va the country. Its advocates may =
ndy that Il has done quite as well as
lies other would have done. But they
itch be aware that party In pow
Ills Judged by its own conduct, not by
nal possible conduct Of the Opposite
xty Harpcr's Weekly.