The morning call., 1892-06-11
PATRIOT AND STATEsMAK.
Sketch of the Life and the administration of
the President

Sketch of the Life and the administration of
the President
President Harrison can lay claim to being
a representative American citizen In all the
qualifications which that proud title calls
for, both as to ancestry and personal acts
and qualities. His reat-grandfather, Ben
jamin Harrison, was one Of the signers OF
that cornerstone of the republic. the Dec
laration of Independence. and his grand
father, William Henry Harrison, made his
name famous in our country's war history
as general, and in her political history as
ninth President of the United States.
The President is the second son of John
Scott Harrison. and was born at South
Bend, Ohio, August 20, 1888. He received
a good education, and early in life adopted
z the profession of law. The monotony OF
struggling with the intrieacies and some
times peculiar phases OF the law as they
were developed in the States of Ohio and
Indiana from 1852 until 1860, was only
broken by one important event. and that
was his marriage to the estimable lady who
is at present mistress Of the White House.
In 1860 Mr.. Harrison began to take an
active part in politics and stumped Indiana
in behalf of the Republican party. His
political ambition, however, was smothered
by patriotic feeling when the War
of the Rebellion broke out, and early
in the conflict he organized a regl-
ment from the Hoosier State. He partici-
pated in several hot engagements and
especially distinguished himself with his
regiment at the battle Of Resaca In 1864.
He afterWard took part in the battle OF
Nashville, and subsequently joined Sher-
man at Savannah and marched with his
forces through Richmond to Washington at
the close Of the war.
Since the war he has been prominent in
politics and was chairman of the conyen-
ton OF 1880, which nominated Garfield, and
in the campaign of the same year he was
elected United States Senator and served
six years.
In 1888 he came into national prominence
by being chosen standard-beareI of the Re-
publican party. lie carried the banner TO
victory against Democratic opponent who,
in addition to the prestige Of his party, was
at the head of affairs at the national capital
1t is as President that Benjamin Harrison
has shown himself to be what he is-a
patriot, first and last, man OF far-sighted
sagacity, and shrewd. strong minded and
yet conservative statesman. His admins
tratiOn has been marked, as bat few in our
later history have been, by the individuality
of the President; and what makes the Tact
more worthy of admiration is that that in
dlviduality has been of sort which has
touched a tender a1d responsive chord in
every American heart irrespective of party
prejudice.
The administration of President Harrison
has been one filed with difficult and deli
cate problems. They were many in num-
ber and were of nature which required
no ordinary ability to cope with. While it
is true that the President had Sc leeted able
and stanch men to assist him in steering
the ship of state. it has been none the less
evident that he has taken a personal inter
est in all the momentous questions. He was
elected to carry out a principle-pr0teetion
TO American Industries and labor. Not
only has he upheld this principle. but he
has maintained in a manly and patriotic
manner several others which were called III
question after he was installed.
Chief among the events of the alminis
tration was the trouble with Chile over the
killing of American seamen aud insulting
the American flag. In spite of bulldozing Ian
guage from the peppery republic and slurs
from the English press the President an
nOuneed his ultimatum and stood by it un-
til ii was obeyed.
The next important event was the settle
ment of the veXatious Bering Sea question,
which the Cleveland administration had in
vain tried to arrange, upon basis in every
way honorable until arbitration shall de-
termine the matter for good. In every way,
too, he has adhered to the protective policy
Of his party, and as evidence of how he is
appreciated for this steadfastness to prin-
ciple which is striking its roots deeper into
the fabric of our Government one need only
recall the ovations which he received when
he made his famous trip from the Atlantic
to the Pacific year ago.
Under the present administration, too,
Germany and France have been taught a
salutary lesson respecting American rights
in Samoa; the dollar of the country has
been kept on the standard OF commercial
nations; the navy has been placed upon an
efficient basis and plans are still progress
ing that will make 1t soon all that Is needed
to protect national interests at any time or
in any part OF the world.
g Altogether the Presidents administra-
tion has been one to be proud OF, and that
his party is proud of 1t Is evidenced by the
fact of his being chosen TO again lead the
van in the interests of protection and Re-
publican principles.