The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-02-19
A WEAK DOCUMENT.

The Presidents Manifest Neglect OF Inn
portant Issues.
President Harrison is entitled to the
credit Of saying less in an interminable
message than any Of his predecessors in
the White House could possibly have
done. A duller, drearier. feebler docu-
ment was never sent to Congress- Only
the natural interest attached to an on
cial message to Congress from the chief
magistrate Of the Republic would war
rant any newspaper in spreading before
its readers such a bulky collection OF
littleness and platitudes.
1t has not even the merit of sincerity,
as may be readily seen in the clumsy
jugglery OF Treasury figures. and the
evasion OF important issues. The fright
full drain on the Nations resources,
caused by the extravaganza Of the Fifty
first Congress, is passed over. There is
the scantiest allusion to the pension
gulf, and thaS not an honest expression
Of opinion. The notorious mismanage-
ment of the Department Of the Interior
receives liberal coat Of whitewash.
Not word for or against the census
swindle.
|, The lame, impotent attempt to apollo
gize for the Mckinley monstrosity must
make even the Canton tariff tinker
smile. The pitifnl response of Presi-
dent Harrison in this particular to the
terrible arraignment Of the people q
month ago, by the childish argument
that the Mckinley business was mis-
understood, is not calculated to increase
public respect>for the present occupant
Of the White House.
When Mr.. Harrison founders amid
great questions, he tries to make up for
it by diving into small ones. He is
particularly at home when dealing with
"Uncle Jerry Rusk" Or Partner
Miller" In expressing his sympathy
for railroad brakemen and expatiating
on dairy products, in two and a-half
columns on our foreign relations and on
beet sugar. Interesting though such
topics may be, they are hardly worth
the space devoted to them in the mes
sage.
But the most rregretable feature
of the message is its palpable in
sincerity in dealing with subjects in
which the American people are princi-
pally interested. Mr.. Harrison's re-
marks on the Treasury, on the force
bill and on the tariff betray, in every
sentence, a degree of insincerity which
can only excite contempt They have
not even the merit 81 clever evasion,
for they are SO palpably wrong that
any tyro in National affairs can readily
point out their falsity of statement and
conclusions.
Such message is an insult to the
American people 1t reveals in the
strongest light the Lilliputian mind
and character Of the writer, and it Is
bound to intensity the feeling of con-
tempt with which intelligent Republic
cans regard the President who owes his
position to the branded chairman Of the
Republican National Executive Com
mittee.
The emphatic verdict Of the people
on the 4th OF November stands forth
in stronger and holder relief against
the dark background of Mr.. Harrison's
message. His childish complaints
against the uprising that the Nc
Kinley monstrosity caused and his
still more puerile arguments In favor of
the force bill, will only confirm the
impression that he is the weakest man
that ever sat in the Presidential chair
and indited Presidential message.
His message is but voice from Lilliput
and will be received as such.
Argus.