The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-01
sCREED FROM "TOM" PLATT.

sCREED FROM tom" PLATT.
The New York Boss Must Have Been Hit
Hard by ,hat Alleged Interview.
United Press Dispatch.
NEW YORK, May 31.-Ex- United States
Senator Thomas C. Platt. whose opposition
to the denomination of President Harrison
is no secret. was asked to-day if he had
read the report printed in the World of
Friday, of an interview with the President
in which Mr. Harrison was reported as say
ing that he did not believe that "indi-
vidual disappointments would control the
action of the convention at Minneapolis"
''Yes" Mr.. Platt replied, Il saw the in
terview. At first felt inclined to doubt
its authenticity; not because of any thing
said, however. for nothing was attributed
to the President which he has not said In
one form or another to many persons But
| did not suppose he would choose
q leading Democratic newspaper
through which to address the Re-
publican party. However, as the in
terview has not been questioned from
genuine The remark about individual
disappointments' indicates how thoroughly
the President mlsapprehends the nature of
the opposition to his candidacy, and also
how wise Is the American system of fire.
ernment. 1t is astonishing how quick and
easy is the process by which a man comes
to look upon the place he holds
as his private property. de De-
comes accustomed to the exercises n;.s
follows in the train of high authority, and
he soon regards it as little less than impi-
Gus to suggest that he would better make
wav for another. The President cannot
zen without offering prayer night and day
for the reelection OF Benjamin HARRISON.
He does not conceive 1t to be morally pos
sible for any one to oppose him. except from
bad. selfish and reven geful motives.
HE'S PRACTICAL POLITICIAN.
"Now, am what our mugwump friends
delight to stlgmatize as q practical poll
tician.' look at things as they really are.
The President says. in the World inter
view. that he has acted conscientiously in
the discharge of his public duties. 1t is far
from me to question that / am more than
willing to subscribe to really enthusiastic
praise of his administration. 1t has
certainly done great things. But the
President should not assume that he is
the only man who since 1880 has contrib
uted to the Republican party's splendid
achievements He is only one of many
statesmen who conformity have labored to
the country's honor and advantage. Blaine
gave US the most attractive and popular
feature of our p0llcy-the magnificent
scheme of reciprocity has saved to
the people $50. 100000 of taxation here and
TO their exports half as much more in the
foreign countries where they are sent.
1t has extended our foreign trade not less
<ho,, md ,saoa 70 do
vastly more than that Now. if remem-
Der rightly. when Mr.. Blaine sent to the
Preside ut his pan-American report propos-
ing reciprocity, Mr.. Harrison forward 1t to
Congress with something like a sneer He
said in his message to Congress: 1t will
certainly be time enough for us to consider
whether We must cheaper the cost
of production by cheapening labor in
order to aain access to south American
markets, when We have fairly tried the
effect of established and reliable steam
communication and of convenient methods
of money exchange. Then he went on to
say that with these advantages We could
easily compete IN South America with any
power. In other words he threw oOld-water
on reciprocity.
Later. when Mr. Blaine's public letters
demonstrated that the people were with
him and his great, policy; when Congress
treaty. the President went starring
through the South saying very much about
the glOries of reciprocity and very little
about the statesman who contrived it.
Reciprocity is the brightest jewel in
the crown of this administration, but
whose jewel is itf This administration
settled the Samoan difficulty with Ger
many. That was particularly ugly and
delicate affair. and undoubtedly great
credit is due to the Republican govern
ment which adjusted it SC promptly. SO
neatly ana SO advantageOusly. dare say
the President should come in for his
share of the credit. but 1t Was not he
who drew the instructions under which
certainly not he who did the business.
Minister KassOn is most experienced
diplomatic. Phelps is q man of great tact.
capacity and discretion and Bates, Bay Yards
friend. from Delaware. had been TO Samoa
and knew all about the difficulty. 1t wat
certainly a great victory for the Harrison
administration. but we must not wholly
forget Blaine. Kasson. Phelps and Bates
The Chilian affair was also victory.
and the President was highly conspicuous
divide hOnors with his Secretary
of the Navy. who bmlt and
armed cruisers between nightfal and
morning for two weeks before the
ject apology. and with Commander Evans
whose martial demeanor gave the Chiliar
admiral terrible cramp. We must moi
leave out Tracy and Evans.
AN CNwARRANTED sLUR.
This administration has vindicated the
honor of the American hog. Now. for the
first time in twenty years. American meat
products are admitted into every European
market on the same terms with the meat
products of other lands. and in some mar
kets OH terms even more favorable.
have had some difficulty In figuring on
just who has done this. Certainly il wa,
done primarily by the agents of the Stat,
Department. by Minister Reid in France
by Minister Phelps in Germany, by Minister
Grant In Austria and by other ministerial
| representatives. Now my excellent friend
| Secretary Rusk has said that he il
| very much o bhged to MIR. Blaine and tn,
| State Department for the able assistance
| they have rendered him in securing the I'd
| mission of American meat products abroad
| ] his 1t seems TO me. Mr.. Rusk aid
In recent speech the President
| himself thought this result had beer
accomplished In such complacent terms
| as to make me fear that Rusk had counted
| without his host. But W herher Ii was don,
by Harrison or Rusk. the Re pn blican party
|. and the country will not bs likely to forge
| that Blaine was in the State Department
| tn ut Reid was at Paris, that Phelps was a
| Berlin and that their relation TO the vic
tory was not altogether mechanical
lit might be said. perhaps that the credi
! OF the achievements wrought by Republic
| an statesmen belongs especially To IN,
| President ON the ground that he gave thes.
| great men to the party. But did hel Ger
tainIy II was not Harrison VIII,
made Blaine. nor did he max,
Thomas Is. Reed nor William Mckinley. no
| lContlnusd ON second P.ge.I