The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-11
Mr.. Hnrrison,s Fntnre.

cago Herald's statement that President
HARRIsoS regards himself as the logical
candidate" of his party in 1896, or that be
expects to be recognized in the meantime
asIits natural leader" Mr.. HARRISON has
always had a some VIII at exaggerated idea Of
his own importance, and has never been
able to realize that his nomination for the
presiden CIV was due to the accident of his
residence in pivotal state, in combina-
ton with other fortuitous circumstances,
rather than to his qualities of lead
ership and his intellectual power.
The significance OF the fact that
his election was only ACCOMPLISHED bv
fraud and corruption. and OF the crushing
efeats OF his party in 1890 and 1892
seems never to have dawned upon him.
His late message revealed him in the
character of Bou bon of the Bourbons-
as one incapable either of learning or
forgetting. He cannot apparently be
made to understand that the verdicts of
$50 and '92 meant the popular Reputation
of everything with which he is identified
in the public mind-Of McKinleyism.
forcebillism, billion dollarism, the abuse
of official patronage. etc. 1t would be
interesting 10 know how he explains the
loss to his party OF a dozen northern
states and its narrow escape from defeat
in hat dozen others which had been
it's stroneho for generation.
The probability is that Mr. HARRISON
will relapse speedily into comparative OBJ
security alter March 4. OF course he vii!
possess Whatever distinction attaches to
the average ex-president. But Mr.. HAIR
RlsoN has not Impressed himself at al
upon the popular Imagination. The halo
of military glory does not encircle his
brow as it did that of GRANT. He has not
stamped the impress of his individuality
upon great political party as did GROVER
CLEVELAND. His administration has been
essentially commonplace from the begin
ming. He never, IN his entire career, rose
above party" for a single moment
He never originated a policy or
showed the slightest capacity for
constructive craftsmanship. He never
contributed new thought to political
literature. He has been a mere plodder
content to walk in the narrow pathway
marked out for him by the platform
makers, without trying to step to the
right or TO the left-tO take his cue from
the extremists aud the reaction aries, and
10 do their bidding as unquestioningly as
the docile slave obeys hrs master. He
signed the McKin ey bill without reading
it. II is doubtful if he has read it yet.
1t Is barely possible that Mr.. HARRISON
may be the republican nominee in 1896,
but, if 80. he will be the leader OF for
Iorn hope. If the republican party shall
choose him for its candidate four years
hence il will be because it will have then
ceased to be an important factor in our
politics. Indications multiply, indeed,
that this will be the Gaze.
The prospects are that the contest in 1896
will be between the democrats aud the
popuhsts, and that if the republican party
then hes an existence, it will be as mere
remnant. as the wings were in 1856. Even
in this event Mr. MCKINLEY or Mr. REED
or Mr.. LODGE will be a more probable
candidate than Mr.. HARRISON. MCKIN-
LEY typlhes protectlonsm, LODGE typihes
forcebillism. and REED typifes paternalism
and prodigality in government, each more
prominently than Mr.. HARRsoN. He
stands for all three indeed, and SO does
each of these gentlemen in SCARCELY less
degree. But each has a more engaging
personality than Mr.. HARRISON. Either
would doubtless make better race than
the latter. and il is a safe predi ction that
not enc OF the four would, ii nominated.
get fifty electoral votes.
The republican party is not exactly
dead, but il is in the lhroes of dissolution,
and can barely survive four years longer.
II it does there will be small honor in
leading il into the grave that will yawn
for it. Mr.. HARRISON might as we'll bow
to the inevitable. There lie no political
future for him. He is a good lawyer and
remarkably clever orator. He can do
we'll practicinR law in this town. He can
get plenty of cases and liberal fees. lie
can occupy, without challenge. the proud
position of the first citizen of Indianapolis.
He can have the call on the chair at all
republican conventions and mass meet