The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-02
THE LITTLE BENJAMIN HARRISON.

THE LITTLE EENJAmIN HAHhi>ON
BENJAMIN Harrison grows smaller every
day. The citizen. conscious OF his du-
ties, the patriot with the welfare OF his
country at heart. hsiled Mr.. Cleveland's
proclamation calling Congress in extra
session with gladness and Joy. 1t told
him that the law making power was 10
sit Immediately. that the body on which
our institutions devolve the duty OF deal
ing with such emergencies as now face
the country would be at once brought
face TO face with its proper responsible
ties. and that II the representatives
whom the people have deliberately chosen
have a living and realizing sense OF the
awful responsibility urder which they
now rest. our troubled country will find
repose, the ruin that hangs over thous-
ands and thousands Of happy homes will
be averted, and the nation will again
be started upon the highway that leads
TO prosperity and content. This was the
| exultant hope that rose In the heart and
| mind OF all unselfish and patriotic men
| when the announcement went forth that
the President had called Congress to-
gether.
How did Benjamin Harrison receive the
news? II his heart was so wanting In |
sympathy for his kind that he was in
capable Of sharing in that joyful hope |
that seized all other men, the simplest |
decency should have prompted him to
keep silent at least. Not so. however.
with Benjamin Harrison. He must talk
Of the event, and II must be with a
sneer. lie said he did not know whether
Congress would repeal the Sherman law
or not. though he felt sure IT would not
have done it for him. And why? Be
cause the South could exercise con-
trolling voice, and the South. as he plain
ly suggested, could be counted on to OPP
pose any measure necessary to the coun-
try's welfare If brought forward by him.
II this were true, it would be no UNI 10
natural return for the South TO make TO
Benjamin Harrison. But Harrison knows
1t is not true. He knows the representa-
tives OF the South in Congress are as
patriotic as any body Of men can be-
and that they would sink their-we will
not say hatred, but contempt for him I'm
to any call OF duty which they
understood the country to make upon
them.
IL is most unbecoming. at best, in Ben
jamin Harrison to thrust himself upon
the public gaze at all. in connections with !
the distress the country is now suffering. }
He had it within his power when the
country was cursed by his official tenure ;
Of the Presidents office 10 save It from !
the disasters already suffered, and those
which threaten 1t. The Sherman law
passed during his administration, and q
could not have become law without that II
approval which he cheerfully gave to it. n
md why did he approve Of this act, hos n
lie In every word and line to every 8
'ublc profession that he had ever made? W
'ecause the silver States, some of which n
e was TO take part in thmble-rigging al
nto the Union, were thought necessary W
make him President again, and he ri
elieyed be could secure their votes for TT
imsef If he threw them this sop. That o'
why he put his hand to an act that be
vas directly at war with every public c.
tterance he had ever made. OK
Decency as we have said. might have al
made Benjamin Harrison restrain his &c
neers on this solemn and momentous re
ccasion But ordinary prudence should ar
ave cautioned him against any express nc
ION which tended to draw attention To- ro
ards the discreditable part he played in be
lunglng the country into its present dis
'ess.