The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-12-09
THE POPULAR VERDICT.


Harrisou's Administration Full OF Onenses
I To American Voters.
The verdict of the country upon the
administration of Benjamin Harrison
is unmistaka BILE. IL has been rendered
with such EN- phasis that it is impossible
to misinterprct il. The administration
and all its works have been repudiated
by the American people. Two years
ago the country registered such vote
of want Of confidence as has never be-
fore been recorded against any admin
istration in our history. But the ma
| jorities against the administration,
overw helming rs they were, lost some
what of their moral force because of
the very large abstcntion of voters in
| nearly all the states II was urged by
| the supporters of the administration
that while this abstention might be
held TO Indicate -aclS of positive en-
thusiasm for the president and his pol
cies, it did not signify absolute dis
approval of them, ana it was confident
" predicted that in 1892, when full
| vote would he registered, the verdict of
| 1890 would be reversed. Well. the full
vote has been pollcd--by far the largest
| in the history of the country-and the
verdict of 1890, instead of being re-
versed has been reaflirmed and made
| more emphatic.
The causes Of tho unpopularity of
| the Harrison administration are not far
10 seek. and that they have proved SO
| polent speaks well for the moral stand
ards as well as for the intelligence and
patriotism of the American people.
The administration began its existence
under cloud. Mr.. Harrison owed his
election not TO the rnpurchased suf-
fragcs of the people but TO bribery and
corruption OF the mos; fragrant descrip-
ton. He obtained the presidency in
lsSs only through the lavish and cor
rupt expenditure Of money. extorted
from the tariff rings and other pluto
cratic combines organized to prey upon
the national treasury and 10 despoil
the people OF their substance. lie HIM
self inspired and ccopcrated in the
raising Of this money. and To great
extent directed its disbursement. With
III of this outlay he did not receive a
ma jor:ty nor even n plurality of the
popular vote. lie was in IN actual mi
nority Of 49, 63i on the popular vote
and fell %. 4s4 below Cleveland. He
was therefore minority president, not
| ONLY in the sense .hat he had failed to
receive a majority of the popular vote
but that his leading competitor had
received a plurality. lie was the offi-
clal product of money and not the
choice Of the people
The catalogue Of Mr.. lIarrison's Of
- 1.,p npa Whn
he bestowed cabinet position upon
John Wanarnaker as a reward for the
atter's services in raising corruption
fund of $500 600 for use in securing his
own election. he scandalized the coun-
try When he called the notorious
Stephen Il. Elkins who had long been
, | notorious as a jobbcr and boodler, to
his cabinet. he repeated this offcnse.
| When he turned the census bureau
, | over to man OF Robert IL. Portcr's an
, tccedcnts with full license TO pervcrt
| it from its legitimate uses to those OF a
, party machine. when he put such Eel.
: low as Green H. Raum Mt the head oil
the pension bureau and retained him
, after his incompe;cncy and dishonesty
: had been fully revealed. when he con-
fcrred an important official position
! | npon a criminal like Dave" Martin in
Philadelphia and recognized" in 8
, similar manner such characters rs T.
. H. Ncbckcr. Sam Kcrchevel and Henry
I MacFarland in Indiana. MIR. Harrison
/. advertised himself rs unmindful Of tn,
properties Of his high office, and rem
!, dercd ii impossible for honest men
r who were not blinded by party spiri
or personal Partially, 10 retain faitl
/, in him. however much they may have
! desired to do 50.
= Aside from his prostitution Of th'
q patronage to the service Of his owl
h interests and Of the supposed interest
cf his party Mr.. Harrison flew in tn
! face OF enlightened public opinion
- when he identified his administrator
= With McKinlcyisn and the wicke,
!, force bill. IL was the habit of rcpuh
- ican organs and orators in the reccn
~ campaign To cuiogizc his administra
4, ton rs 'ccan" one, and 70 clair
i tina; the democratic press and the dem
y ocraiic speakers admitted il TO be such
a Nothing could have been farther fror
;, the facts While II is true that, |
consideration Of the presidents sad dc
nestle affection, the spokesman of til
democratic party, through the pres
and on the stump, treated his admins
tration and himself personally wit
a great forbearancc during the can
y paign, and confined themselves chief
to the great issues Of tariff reform an
II local self-government. IL is not .ru
2 that thsy certified to the clcanness an
general excellence Of his administr;
- ton. There have been some redeem
70 ing features Ia Mr.. Harrison's recor
as president, but they have not bee
sr numerous or important. His oflici
n record as whole has been very ba
and when the country, on Tuesday. r
10 pudiatcd he force bill ard the Mcki
- ley law, and condemned the follics NJ