The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-06-17
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY, JUNE II, 1892.
A WISE SELECTION.


nomination of President Harrison
was the logical outcome Of the events
of the past five or six months. The
withdrawal of Mr.. Blaine from the
field left the president, in view of his
most successful administration, as
the one choice of the party. Not only
was President Harrison one of the
strongest men, among the many
strong men with which the party is
richly endowed, that could be put in
nomination, but by his wise, judicious
conservative administration, by which
he has so promoted the welfare of
the country and strengthened the at
titude of his party, he had justly
earned this mark of approval from his
party associates.
Never in the history of the country
has there been an administration
more closely connected with the bust
ness affairs of the nation, than has
been that of President Harrison. 1t
has been said by many who have pro-
nounced eulogies upon it, that it
would be known in history for it's
sound business rather than its bril-
liant qualities Yet, no administra-
tion has met and settled more diff
cult and Intricate foreign controver-
sizes with greater credit to itself and
honor TO the country than the admin
istration of Benjamin Harrison. Its
diplomatic record has been most
brilliant one and has called out words
of approval from the party's oppo-
nentS.
But, in spite of all this, the situa-
tlon which confronted the convention
at Minneapolis was a most compli-
Gated one. Notwithstanding Mr..
Blaine's letter declining to be cam
didate, and stating that his name
would not be presented for the nom
nation, few Of the party leaders
persisted in their attempt to bring
about his nomination. But in all the
time that elapsed between the publ
cation of his letter last February and
the assembling of the convention, not
a word from him was made public sig
nifying change of mind. Unfortu-
nate as was his resignation upon the
eve of the assembling Of the conven-
tiOn, without one word of explanation,
it in no way signitied change of
mind upon his part in regard to the
presidential contest, and the presen-
tatiOn of his name Yesterday to the
convention as candidate for the
nomination, was certainly an migrate
full act upon the part of those who
profess to be his friends, and can
hardly increase public respect for
them.
But this work upon the part of
these men ought not to reflect in any
way upon the integrity and honesty
of purpose Of Mr.. Blaine He has
stood as bulwark of Republicanism
for years, and his name ought not to
suffer because of the intrigues of a
few politicians. The result of the
ballot yindicates the assertion that
was made all along, that it was more
their desire to defeat Harrison than
nominate Blaine which actuated those
who were engineering the project,
and that they simply used
Blaine's name in the hope that the
magic effect it had always had upon
the people would accomplish the end
sought. There has been no disrespect
shown Mr.. Blaine upon the part of
the masses Of the Republican party.
They accepted his letter as final and
naturally enough turned to President
Harrison as their choice for the lead
ership. The disrespect that has been
shown was upon the part Of those who
used his name contrary to his public
ly expressed wishes.
AS stated above, the FREE PRESS
believes theselectiono of President Har-
rison as the head of the Republican
ticket was wise act upon the part
of the convention, and the only logi-
cal outcome of the situation. The
campaign will be fought largely upon
the record of his administration, and
while the party is rich in strong men,
none of them would prove stronger
upon that record than the President
himself. Upon every point
which will be attacked by the oppo-
sition he will prove strong. In fact
he combines at the present hour, bet
ter than any other public man, the
various strong qualities of the great
Republican leaders, and he has been
made thus strong by the success and
strength of his administration. Four
years ago, when comparatively an un-
known man, he proved himself
strong party leader, his speeches were
strong and he showed himself to be
familiar with all public questions, and
inspired confidence which led the
party to victory against the hosts
of the opposition, strongly intrenched
in power though they were. To-day