New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-01
EX-SENATOR PLATT'S VIEWS
He TALKS ABOUT THE NOMINATION.
EXPLAINING HIS POSITION AND THAT OF HIS
FRIENDS.


10 the denomination OF President Harrison was received
last oight from the City Press Association by whose
agency IL Is understood il has been distributed to
the press OF the country. The Tribune does not print
II in full but gives enough for fair presentation
OF the authors aggressive views:
Ex-senator T. c. Platt whose opposition TO Presi
dent HarrsOn's denomination Is no secret WAS asked
Yesterday IL he had read the report printed in The
World on Friday. of an interview with the President
IN which Mr.. Harrison reported saying that
he did not believe that "iudividual disappointmens
vould control the action of the Convention at Mime
apoli..
ayes" Mr. Plat replied. al saw the interview
At FIRST felt inclined to doubt it's authenticity net
because OF anything in 1t, however for nothing was
attributed to the President which he has not said in
ono form or another to many persons. But | did
not suppose he would choose a leading Democratic
newspaper through which to address the Republican
party. However as the interview has not been
questioned from Washington, l suppose II must be
genuine The remark about individual disappoint-
ments' indicates how thoroughly the President mis-
spprehends the nature OF the opposition to his can
djcacv and also how wise Is the American system OF
frequent changes in the personnel OF the Government
He does not conceive 1t to be morally possible for
aay one 10 oppose him except from bad. selfish and
revcngeful motives.
Now am what Mugwump friends delight TO
sgmatize as practical politician look at things
As they really are The President lays in this World
interview that he has acted conScientosy In the dis
charge Of his public duties. 1t Is far from me 10
question that. ! more than willing TO sutsor1oe
10 really enthusiastic praise OF his Administration.
II has certainly done great things. But the President
should not assume that he Is the only man who, since
1885, has Contributed to the Republican parfy's
splendid achievements. lie is only Of many states
men who CONFORMITY have lsbOred 10 the cOuntry's
honor and advantage. Blaine gave MS the most at
tractive and popular feature OF our pollcy-he mag
nihcent scheme OF reciprocity which has saved to the
people S5O.OOOOOO Of taxation here and 70 their ex-
ports half as much In che foreign countries
where they ore sent. 1t has extended our foreign
trade not less than 81 900 600 and promises soon
10 do vastly than that. Now. IL ! remember
rightly when Mr.. Blaine sent to the President his
Pan American report proposing reciprocity, Mr.. lar
rison forwarded II to Congress with something very
like O sneer. He said IN his message to Congress IN
will certainly be time enough for to consider whether
we must cheaper the cost OF production by cheapen
ing labor In order TO gain access to South American
markets when have fairly tried the effect OF as
tabNshed and reliable steam communication and or
convenient methods Of money exchange Then he
went on 10 say that with these advantages we could
easily compete In South America anyhow. In other
words he threw cold water reciprocity.
=" Later when Mr.. Blane's public letters demon
strated that the people were with him and and his
great policy, when Congress put It into law and
Brazil gave Mr. Blaine a treaty the President went
the rIolies OF reciprocity ard little about The
statesman who contrveh II. Reciprocity is the
brightest jewel IN the crown OF this Administration,
but whose jewel is 1t
"This Administration settled the Samoa difficulty
with Germany That was a particularly ugly and
delicate affair and undoubtedly great credit Is due
10 the Republican Government which adjusted 1t so
promptly, neatly and 80 advantageously. dare
say the President should in for his share OF the
credit but 1t was not he who drew the Instructions
under which our Commissioners acted. 1t was a
victory for the Harrison Administration but we must
not wholly forget Blaine, Kasson, Phelps and Bales
1.-THE Gillian affair also - victory, and the
President was highly conspicuous at the finish. But
oven there he divide hOnors with his secretary
OF the Navy, who built and armed cruisers bct"o'h
pightaIl and morning for two weeks after the ChiahS
were down on their knees in AFFECT apology, ana
WITH Commander Evans whose martial demcsnor
CAV. the Gillian admiral q terrible cramp. We must
not leave out Tracy and Evans
"This Administration has vindcated the honor Of
the American hog Now, for the first time IN twenty
wears American meat products are admitted iht"
every Furopean market on the terms with the meat
products Of other lands, and In some markets Oh
terms even more favorable. have had some din'
entity in figuring ont Just who has done this Ger
tainly 1t was done primarily by the agents OF "ic
State Department. Now my eXceleht Hie"N
Secretary Rusk has said that he is very much
Obliged to Mr.. Blaine and the STATE IN
parf1nent
him In securing the admission OF American meat
products abroad This seems TO me that II is RusK
who did IT, In a recent speech the President him
self said that this result had been accomplished III
snch complacent terms as to make me fear tha'
Rusk had counted without his host
at might be said perhaps. that the credit OF t'e
achievements wrought By Republican statesmen DC
longs especially to the President the ground that
he gave these great men to the party. But ola ne
Certainly il not Harrison who made Blame MT
did lie make Thomas Il. Reed nor William MchliicS'
nor John sherman. Allison, nor Adrlch nor riso
nor Hale. guess maybe he did make Noble Miner
and wanamaker and / shall not object to his having
all the credit which attaches to their usTi0ns caIeee'
But the point I wish to bring out is that ours Is
Government OF parties and not Government OF men
The Presidents lies in the assumption t''t "o
has done It all. He asks the country to see I'D MN
the inspirator and creator Of all that las bonsn'
progress and happiness to the people since he began
10 reside in the White House. lie attributes TO MIN
self all the glorious achievements Of the LIST Con-
grcss quite ignoring the superb genius whose s'rons
arm and clear head turned havoc into order ana mde
the feeble Republican majority Of three or four ue
most prolific and successful body Of lawmakers 'hn'
ever sat In Congress. The Mckinley bill. the Customs
act, the shipping bill, the Pension law, the Navy
Construction laws the FOrtifcatons laws, the Army
reform acts all the wondMful legislation which inc
Republican majority OF that Congress formulated and
which Thomas p. Reeds resOlute will enabled them
10 enact, Mr.. Harrison gives 10 himself ana saSe
See what have done!
ain seeking 10 correct this misrepresentation on the
Presidents part, do not seek 10 take from lnm
the credit that does belong to him. He has been d
good strong wise President, and AZ such he VIII go
into history Animated he has been by purely
patriotic motives, he will admit the force OF the
proverb that Virtue is its own reward IL indicates
4 false notion Of the dignity and exaitaton OF the
Presidency to say that any man. matter how great
ar how good is entitled 10 H. The man does not
live in whom that expression would not he pre-
sumptuous II Mr.. Harrison has done his duty l am
glad But he has sixty-thre millions Of fellow
citizens and IL is their Presidency, not anybodys.
The question which the Minneapolis Convention