New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-01
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH

The Presidents speech at Rochester was one
of those fclicitous bits of improvisation for
which he has so remarkable faculty. His
predecessors in Office have sometimes made
more elaborate and prctcntious addresses, but
none has ever spoken with more natulalneSS
and homely simplicity than General Harrison
when confronted with public audiences. This
First Citizen in addressing his fellow citizens
always seems TO he at home and in touch with
what Mr. Lincoln loved to describe rs the plain
people. There is no affectatiOn OF oratory {;
there is no strainng after rhetorical effect but
there is dgniiied vet informal discussion OF
public questions. with an unmistakable tone OF
sincerity and with unvarying tact. General
Harrison always succeeds in convincing his
auditors that he speaks ont Of the fulncSs Of
a large American heart. His unaffected man
ner and unstudied style disarm criticism He
was elected by party, but he is President Of
the whole people: and when he addresses a
popular a>semblagc those who listen to him
forget what arc his political associations and
their own, and only remember that he Is an
American among Americans.
The dedication of a soldiers monument was
an occasion which appealed strongly to the
warlike instincts and patriotic memories of
victorious veteran like General Harrison With
the tramp of the battle scared battallons IN
blue, the sound of the old marching tunes and
the waving Of the torn and faded flags. he was
tempted 10 forget that he was the President OF
reunited and peace loving people and 10 re-
member that he had been a soldier on the
winning side. But how easy it was for him
tbo oh pf
and the vaporng Of fre-eaters. and in the same
breath to declare that the American people are
smtten with the love of peace and that ont
of civil war North and South brought mutual
respect that would not otherwise have been
possible 1.-THE South learned" he said, with
fine feeling. "that Paul Revere still rode the
highways Of Massachusetts. and that the man
Of Concord still ploughcd his fields. And we,
on our part. learned that the spirit Of the
cavalier. which was found in the Southern
army. was combined with the reserve and
steadfastnesS Of CromwclfS Iron>des.' Those
were sentences 10 ring through the South as
well as the North and 10 remind all Americans
that the Civil War brought 10 victor and van
auishcd as he said, "A common country and
equal blessings.
SO friendly critic OF American institutions
~ Mr.. Gladstone has declared that civilza-
ton has known no greater marvel than the
disarmament Of million Of soldiers al the close
of the Civil War and their immediate abSOrp-
ton in the cares Of business and the arts OF
pacific industry. The wonder of that miracle
of National grace grows from year 10 year As
the evidences Of complete reconciliation be
tween North and South are multiplied. The
| monument at Rochester was dedicated 10 the
memories of the Blue, but there was not one
| unbind or ngencrouS word for the Gray. The
President, surrounded by veterans and battle
| flags, could only speak with exrltation of the
| glorious victory and the God given and God
blessed spear which had yielded the bless
| inps of peace reunion and a common country
wherein no yoke has been borne, no hostage,
| given to the victOrS. " IL gladdenS my heart
now" said this American President, to be
lieve that the love of the old flag is so revived
| i'm these Southern hearts that they would vic
with martial ardor 10 be in the front Of tho
| charge if VIC should ever be called to meet 4
common enemy" The tumultuolS and long
continued applause with which this generous
| tribute 10 the South was greeted by North
ern aSScmbagc showed how thoroughly the
President was in sympathy with American pub
lie opinion North and South are linked to-
gothcr indsSoubly by the hallowcd memore,
of a heroic period and the bonds of mutual
honor and respect. There is no Lost Cause
but only common country regancd, never
again TO he impcrillcd by di>lInion or civil war