The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-11
Ex-PREsIDENr HARRISON TALKS
National Issues l. TO tie Great Republican
Awakening.

Awakening.
| Ex-President Harrison was inter-
viewed night before last at his home in
Indianapolis on the subject of Tuesday S
election as follows:
Il find not only qualification and COM
fort. but downright rejoicing in the
handsome result, said he, when the SUBJ
Ject of Tuesdays elections was preached.
The Republican triumph was SO sweep
ing and so general that the notion that
| local causes might have figured largely
is hardly tenable. Everything went Re-
publican-tlat is everything in the free
part of the COMMISSIONING very clear
~ that general causes were at work
| The result demonstrates that the faith of
the people WAS 10. lost, but only weak
ened, and has been renewed with re-
doubled strength.
The Chief cause was undoubtedly the
general industrial depression. The pee
pie have had presented 10 them sharp
comparison between the two systems.
| They have been brought within year
! from condition of the highest prosper
ity 10 what we have now presented to
us on all sides: not by The operation of a
different system, but by the anticipation
of it. We have had what might be
termed one OF Mr.. Clevelahd's object
lessons. Then there nave been one or
two additional causes that have had
some effect. There has been among the
ex-soldiers not only as organiza-
tons but as individuals, feel
ing of deep resentment at the conduct
OF the pension bureau.
VETERANS WANT FAIR TREATMENT.
when Mr.. Cleveland first came in his
postmaster general put into practice the
method of removals by secret charges
without hearing for the accused. 1t
is the pursuit of this method in part in
the pension bureau that has aroused
Indignation. The soldiers are thorough
ly IN sympathy with the idea of purg-
ing the pension rolls in a proper manner.
They have no desire to countenance any
fraud on the government, but the idea
OF making suspensions first and investi-
cations afterward they do not believe
proper. Four or five years ago it was
not the fact that MIR. Cleveland vetoed
pension bills so much as the way he did
1t that made him unpopular. Another
cause that entered into the result was
ment on the part of disappointed aspir-
ants for Office, and right in the begin
ming Mr.. Cleveland is feeling the effect
of it. When Governor Mckinley
was here on Memorial Day he
said to me that he thought circum-
stances We're such that he would have
to run again this year, and | said to him
that anybody running on the Republican
ticket this year might consider himself
peculiarly fortunate, for l felt certain
that there would be a reaction that
would sweep the country"
1T is hardly likely that there will he
weakening of the Republican faith in
the protection policy?' was suggested.
"There has never been any weakening
in its faith. l said in my last message
to congress that this generation had
nothing to gain from low tariff policy.
l notice now that those who have been
consistent advocates of free trade upon
tile ground that d protective policy
smacks of paternalism, are now advoCat-
ing that public works be pushed in order
that men may De given employment,
which l believe is very proper thing. 4"
POVERTY LEADS TO Discomfort.
81 have always held that one of the
highest aims of government should be
to, if possible, SO regulate affairs as to
keep its people employed. 1t preserves
mems self respect and conduces to a
higher order of citizenship. There is no
more pathetic sight in the world than a
strong, honest, able, and industrious
man. willing to work and seeking work
in vain. The present conditions tend TO
the loss of respect on the part of men
driven to poverty and to discomfort with
the natural and established order of
things. l can readily see how man
can advocate free trade without any I'M
parchment of his intelligence or motives,
but cannot see how men of intelligence
can teach that we may pass from such a
policy as is embodied IN the Mckinley
law to such a one as was foreshadowed
in the Chicago platform without the
greatest disasters and haldships. The
necessary readjustment of business in
anticipation of such radical change
naturally lessons production here, and
the lessening of home production in
creases importation. and we have as the
| natural sequence the present condition
of affairs. The Republican party, as |
have had occasion to say before, stands
committed TO no particular schedule or
law, but it does stand committed to the
American industrial system and the
principle of protection.