The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-17
ATALK WITH HARRISON
The Presidents Opinion Of the
Work Of Congress.
RIGHTS OF THE MAJORITY
The Elections Bill Will Be IN Issue
Sooner or Later.
Tari6 and silver Legislatlon Should Ne
Delayed Until the Present Laws Have
Been Fairly Tested-Estes Gaining
at Sacramento.

NEW YORK, March i6.-tSpecal. The TribHn<e
Washington City correspondent had an inters
view with President Harrison just before Nc
left on his recent pleasure trip aud tell his story
in the following words:
standing upon rug In the front OF an open
fire place, with his hands deeply suried in hie
pockets, the president talked in direct and
forcible fashion about the work of the admins.
tration during the winter. and the congress juse
gone. and incidentally upon the work Of the
future"
The president was first asked what he thourho
OF the work of the Ffty-6rs congress. He sids
"ln many ways il has been most remarkable Ito
work has been Of most important characisx.
The work has been done In the face Of lRos
mendous criticism, and the lcgislation evolved
has been the outgrowth Of ferco coutentions.
The result is one that will stand well In history
and ono which the country viii approve. The
principle of majority rule has also been aaserte1
in marked degree, and adherence to that ruIo
is in my Judgment, the one principle which
will preserve the institutions Of the country"
The president added, in following ouo
this line Of thought: "That = majority ahnlt
rule Is an underlying principle Of our institu-
tons IL IL what has contributed in the pest 70
our security, and IL IN only . guarantee II the
future for our safety. The minute you poog
from that, and concede the minority rule, yoaa
go back to chaos and confusion. Sons a The
fierecst contentious In congress have been made
minority to control the action OF the majoritY.'s
The president was asked II he thought the
Republicans would make the issues involved in
the election bill prominent in future cam mpaigus.
The president said. "You will lind in these
same principles guarantee of the rule OF tho
majority. 1t will not do for the rcopis Of any
section to say that they must be let alone; thao
II Is local question to be settled by the staoeos
whether we shall have honest elections %
not. This might be said, If Il WerO
not for the fact that the principle IL as isene n
national elections. and that the inequality upon
the floor of the House of Representatives h "
great that 1t cannot be ignored. Whether ~
shall become . dominant issue in the immo11e
ate campaign, or In the near future, u Quoos
ton for the public to determine"
asked the president II he was pleased with
the aid given by congress to the shipping tntogs
ests of the country with view OF casTyfne ouo
tho reciprocity policy of the adminfstsat1ou,
The president said eyes, / am very much
pleased. What was passed BY congress woo
about what ] thought was practical, and III fh41
could be safely accomplished. Az ~
liminary step in attempting anything n4Wt
1t is important TO b. consoYvattv0
and avoid extremes I have always tAeuoht q
ssss srd sfs ofn and TsS rapid n ms Ss
government mails, and are important oIom60fG
in bringing ~ in touch with COUNTRIES WIN
which We are seeking 70 improve ouf uade -
The president waa asked If be an NJ nirn
that the tariff issue for the present va on161s
and 1 that ss party Il should rssss tursSer
tation of the subject for as least q
time. The president said In reply a thls:
no ono more agitation upon % this subjscs & n unsii sSs
Mckinley bin has bsen fairly tried. 10 has beon
charged with numerous faults; there II 10 -
dictions die II The Sil has ee Seen ALREADY ions sSo
in operation to indicate that much Was cheI6D4
against it which il untrue. A period should ~
Character Of the the % measure. % Then i it's csn6s
shown by such fair and impartial trial that 3
has faults, let them be eliminated. but until
:nch :nch period y passed any further agitation q
asked the president II he did not hold 70 much
the same opinion concerning hnsnciat legi6ae
need any more financial legislation for The preo-
ent What we have, too, should nave 10 poflo1
OF trial DO not zee any present o neer futnIe
favored silver coinage up 70 point whlgo
IL is not always possible . dstsrs1laS
to Be- conservative M 1 and think We ksve sosse
about a. far ct. present In the direction 0f ~
coinage Of silver a. can be done for tho beet ~
depreciating it. The depreciated dollars As66
mission II to go out and cheat some w0tkuIon
In the payment OF his days wages. IL y ~
currency"
The president was asked about the reeiprocjtv
policy of the administration. He eaid: n have
been engaged for the past few days In considee.
ing various subjects treated under this 1olicy.
have been doing what could to urge slonR ard
develop the possibilities which see 10 this nv
expansion of our trade, aud believe that thio
policy will result In great good
At the close Of the talk, asked him what ~
thought Of the future Of the Republican peEtyf
The president said that there wss alree61 3
strong reaction In favor of the party, ana fka1
the future would show that II was upon the ai6e
Of good government and modern pf0Greeo, azs1
well merited the confidence 0f the cOuntty.
In expressing this opinion, the peeol6eu3 80
emphatcally: IL think II Is about time % akjoSs
ish craftsmanship for the Republican party. p