New-York tribune., 1891-05-04
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECHES.

President HarrIsons tact and Judgment were
disclosed in the admirable series of informal
addresses made in indianapolis during the can
| vass of 1888 For many weeks he received
delegations, and in every instance a favorable
impression was produced by his speeches and
manner. The same talent for saying the right
thing in the right way has been displayed dur
ing his Journey on the Pacific Coast. Always
cordial. direct and candid, he wins the affections
of his audiences by his unaffected manner OF
| speaking, while he commands their respect by
his dignity of bearing and unfailing self-pos-
session. lie never has the air of man who is
recitng something which has been carefully
prepared, but always speaks extemporaneously
| and naturally. very much as well-informed
host entertains his friends, without artifce or
black of frankness. A President who meets his
fellow-citizens in that candid way inevitably in
spires a feeling, not only OF respect for his
office, but also of personal attachment and 10y
atty.
The President has the rare art Of discussing
public questions with so temperate Judgment
as to dsarm partisanship. In his excellent ad-
dress at the San Francisco banquet he spoke OF
many matters of National concern respecting
which there have been marked differences of po-
litical opinion in Congress; but not by single
maladroit expression did he convey the i'm
preston that he was a Republican Executive
holding counsel with friends Of his own party.
The defence of the seaboardS, the construction
of a modern navy, the restoration of the mer-
chant marine, the development of the shlpbulld-
ing industry the improvement of ocean mail
service. the enlargement Of the export trade the
cultivation of friendly relations with Spanish
America. and the completion of the Nicaragua
Canal, were the topics which he discussed IN
quick succession. His opinion was frankly eX-
pressed in each instance, but there was noO
trace of partisanship in his broad and states
manlike method of treatment All these matters
were taken up as the details of National pol
icy which Americans could support from motives
Of patriotism and enlightened self-interest.
1t is fortunate that there is at least one man
| in the Nation who by virtue of his exalted sta
ton can speak to Americans in this tone. The
defenceess condition of the seaboards is source
| of weakness and danger to the whole country
Let the coasts be properly defended and the
navy placed on level with European fleets and
there will never be war with any foreign state
This is a policy which both political parties can
sustain without sacrificing principle or proving
recreant to historic traditions. The President
properly treats it as National question in which
| all Americans are directly interested. In ike
manner he advocates on the most comprehensive
grounds the restoration of the merchant fleet,
the opening of new markets abroad for Amen-
can exports. the revival of the shipbuildlng IN
| dustry and the establishment of a short line oil
water communication between the Eastern and
Western coasts. He regards these not as po-
litcal, but as National questions. by virtue 0l
his office he directs public attention to the
American interests involved in the return OF the
flag to the seas, the development OF commerce
with Southern countries, and the completion OF
an nteroceanc canal for purposes OF Nationa
defence and the enlargement of trade. No othei
American could speak on these great questions
with equal authority
With a President who has the courage Il
meet his fellow w-citizens and discuss matters like
these without equivocation or reserve ther'
ought to be development of true American
feeling throughout the country. Patriotism
well as National self-interest requires the adop
tion of all the great measures which are recon-
mended in this speech Political parties ough
70 unite upon ssul like these which affect tn
welfare of the Nation and they will not dlvld
if strong public sentiment be created IN iavo
of comprehensive American policy OF coast de
fence and expansion OF trade.