The record-union., 1892-11-12
Special to The REcoRD-UNIoN.

New YORK, Nov. u.-President Har-
rison talked freely to-day about the re-
cent defeat of his party and the causes
which brought it about, says a dispatch
from Washington to the Herald. The
overwhelming defeat of the Republican
party" the President said, was due
mainly to the position of the party on the
tariff question. The Republicans forced
the issue to an extreme which did not
meet with the approval of the people.
Another important element which had
much to do with the defeat of the Repub-
licans last Tuesday was the force bill,
and it was felt at the North as well as
the South. The popular belief that the
force bill was sure to pass kept the whole
South within the old lines. But it did
more than that, for it brought to the sup
port of the Democratic party many votes
in the North.
''The verdict last Tuesday," the Presi-
dent continued, could be construed in but
one way. 1t meant a condemnation of the
extreme high tariff policy of the Repub-
licans. The inevitable result, if the party
is to hope for renewal of power, was
modification of this position, but not re-
nunciation altogether OF a protective tariff
policy, which had been the key note Of
every Republican for many years past"
President Harrison has very decided
views as to the conduct OF the campaign.
He does not think very much of Chair
man Carter of the Republican National
Committee. He consented to Mr.. Carter's
appointment only when it became evil
cent that no one more acceptable could be
secured. lie said the campaign was mis-
managed, and that much better results
would have been secured but for the
rdnbow-chasing schemes to which Mr..
Carter gave countenance and assist
ance.
The President was particularly
chagrined at the result in his native
State, and believes it largely due to
lack OF good generalship. What he
wanted them to do, he said, and what he
endeavored TO impress upon them, was
absolutely the necessity of keeping the
Republican States III line and carrying
New York. The President said he had
realized for some time past that the drift
OF public sentiment was against him and
his party, and it was this that led him to
force this advice upon the party leaders.
A disregard OF this advice had much to
do with the result OF last Tuesday
The President realized before any cleo
ton returns came in Tuesday that he was
defeated man. He hoped for success
until the last hour, but admitted that he
had not expected it. one of the reasons
for the Presidents doubt of election was
the well known dissatisfaction of a num-
Der of prominent leaders of his party.
This was evinced by the statement with
regard to Dudley, Quay and Cameron.
As 10 Cameron the President believes he
not only failed to support the ticket but
actually did all in his power to defeat it.
Cameron's influence extends, like
Quay's, far beyond the confines Of Penn
sylvania, and the President evidently re-
allied that both these gentlemen
were in position to do much
to injure the ticket in the heretofore
doubtful States of New York and Indi-
ana. AS to Colonel Dudley, the Presi-
dent said he did not believe Colonel
Dudley had done anything to injure the
ticket, but his influence had rather been
OF negative character. Practically the
President admitted that Colonel Dudley;s
influence had been used, if not to knife
the ticket, to keep his friends from work
ing for it.
In closing the interview, the President
said, while some mistakes might have
been made, it was quite evident to any
man that nothing could have withstood
the popular uprising OF the people against
the high protective tariff 10 which the
Republican party stood pledged by the
Mckinley law.