The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-25
CI.ARKsON on HARRISON.

Mr. J. S. GARRISON formerly Assistant Post
master General, who has just been elected
president Of the Republican League, is very
strong partisan. but at the same time eau
tious and shrewd politician. When asked
few DAYS ago as to his preference between
Harrison and Blaine as candidates for the
presidential nomination Of their party at the
next Republican National Convention, he re-
piled with great promptness that Harrison,
in pure intellectual ability, is not second to
any American living to-day, not even TO his
phenomenal Secretary of State"
The more carefully we examine this
answer the more ingenious it seems to be-
come. 1t is complimentary to both Of the
distinguished gentlemen named, but at the
same time it is thoroughly non-committal.
If Mr.. Blaine has any reason to complain, it
must be found in his being placed on the
same intellectual level with the President,
man for whom he must. in some respects, en-
terrain very sincere contempt; but then
the Secretary of State is expressly referred TO
as being phenomenon" q reservation that
carries an antidote for the somewhat dubious
compliment Of being measured by the in
telleotual calibre of Harrison.
On the whole. Mr.. Clarkson's reported say
ing is more lattering to the President, who is
not in the habit of hearing himself compared
10 such advantage with the leading member
of isCabinet
Considering this saying of Mr.. Clarkson
from an impartial and disinterested point of
view. the only impression which it makes
arises entirely from its absurdity and it seems
wholly inexcusable except in those exigencies
Of politics which prominent politicians are
compelled to consult. TO assert that Harri-
son is intellectually the peer of the ablest men
in the United States; TO assert even that he is
in mental force the equal Of Mr.. Blaine. is a
statement so entirely opposedtothe truth that
il seems profoundly ludicrous in its unworthi-
ness to be seriously refuted.
When we have attributed TO the President
the capacity of a second-rate lawyer. who has
pursued his profession with assiduity, there
by acquiring skill in the use of words and the
power of methodcal thought, we have said f
him all that can be said without trenching
upon that region of exaggcration in which
Mr.. Clarksop was stumbling when he spoke
of him as the intellectual peer OF any living
American.
In the whole course of his administration,
Harrison has shown oil the worst characters
tic of narrow and iliberal mind. notably,
jealousy of distinguished rivals and an in
ability 10 regard himself as the servant Of the
whole people instead Of as the spokesman of
O sectional party as illiberal and narrow as
himself. If there have been glimpses Of
broader and more patriotic views in the
speeches which he has delivered during his
present tour, il is only too we'll known that
the sentiments which he has uttered have
been the expression, not of statesmanlike
spirit, but of perfectly selfish and common
place desire TO ingratiate himself with the
public for the purpose OF increasing his
chance of receiving a nomination at the hands
Of his party.
II Mr.. GARRISON has hereafter 10 indulge
his imagination to assist his party. we would
recommend him to select some subject which
he can treat with more plausibility than lie
has been able to do in describing the mental
capacity of Harrison.