The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-16
PRESIDENT HARRISON AS A CANDIDATE.

formally opened until the respective
candidates of the two great political
parties shall have written their letters
of acceptance. According to political
usage these letters are the last step pre-
liminary to the formal opening of the
campaign, although u campaign is some
times opened in reality before it is
formally opened. This was especially
the case in 1888. General Harrison's
letter OF acceptance that year was dated
Sept. II, while the campaign had really
been open fully six weeks. In fact, it
opened on the day of his nomination,
June Is, and continued to grow wider
open till the day of the election.
The most remarkable feature of that
remarkable campaign was General Har-
rison's speeches. The first of these was
delivered to a delegation from Hen
bricks county, accompanied by vast
crowd from this city, who visited the
candidate at his house on the afternoon
of the day he was nominated. This
was the first of series of campaign
speeches, which, for aptness, eloquence,
variety, force of logic and felic-
ity of expression, have never been
equaled or approached in our political
history. The convention that nomi-
mated General Harrison, of course,
thought that he was fit and capable to
lead the party or it would nothave NOM
mated him, but 1t had no conception of
the part he was to play in the campaign.
1t had no idea that from the very day of
the nomination he would place himself
at the head of the Republican host,
leading it with incompatible skill, map
ping out the line of battle, and inspiring
the party with the most remarkable
series of campaign speeches ever deliv-
cred. The first of these speeches, as
before stated, was delivered on June %
and the last on Nov. 5, the day before
the election. They were delivered to
delegations of hundreds and thousands
from this and neiRhbOring States. The
delegations represented soldiers and
citizens, railroad men, commercial trav-
elers, workingmen, farmers. Tippecanoe
veterans, first voters and organizations
of all kinds. Day after day they poured
into the city by thousands from all di-
rections, filling the air with their con-
tagious enthusiasm. and themselves
gaining new inspiration from General
Harrison's eloquent speeches, which,
wired throughout the country day after
day, fairly set Republicans wild with
their stirring appeals and ringing utter
ances. That was great, memorable,
an exceptional campaign.
1t stands to reason that the present
campaign cannot BIO repetition of that
of 1888 in it's most remarkable feature.
The personality of General Harrison,
which entered so largely into that
campaign, will not, for obvious reasons.
figure very conspicuously in this one.
Then he was free to speak on political
topics to all who visited him, while now
he cannot make political speeches. This
elimination of his personality and
speeches from the campaign will re-
| move a most picturesque element and
may detract from the enthusiasm of
the campaign, especially in this State.
but we do not fear that it will detract
from its vigor. 1t may be that this cam
paign will be less enthusiastic and less
noisy than that of 1888, but 1t does not
follow that it will be less earnest, ag-
gressive or effective. If the Republican
party will be deprived this year
of the inspiring effect of Gen
A.
no less inspiring influence of his
administration. If he cannot be
as prominent personally in this cam
paign as he was four years ago he Will
be very prominent officially. Actions
speak louder than words, and, although
the speeches of General Harrison were
wonderfully inspiring and effective, the
acts of President Harrison are likely to
prove even more so. There is unmis-
taxable evidence thathis administration
has made profound impression on the
masses of the people. This impression
may not take the form of NOISY demon
strations during the campaign, but the
Journal predicts that it will appear in
the more satisfactory and effective form
| of an overwhelming vote for his re-elec-
| ton.
| If the President is debarred from max
| ing political speeches during the cam
paign there is one occasion on which he
may address Republicans as Repub-
lcan and treat political topics from a
partisan standpoint. We refer to his
letter of acceptance. That letter will
not be written in his official
capacity as President of the United
| States. but in his individual capac-
| ity as the Republican candidate. twill
be a political act and part of a party
proceeding. In it the President may,
| for the time. lay aside his official rela-
ton as chief executive of the Nation,
and address himself to the Republican
party, whose standard bearer he 10. The
] Journal hopes he will'do this and avail
himself of the opportunity to give, in
his felicitous way. some of the reasons
for the faith that is in him and why the
Republican party should be continued in
power. He can. if he will, make his let
| ter of acceptance.a text book of Repub-
lican argument and an effective aid to a
| vigorous and Aggressive campaigp As