St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-05
BEN IN THE SADDLE.

Benjamin Harrison is determined that
he shall not be overlooked. and is now
manifesting remarkable industry in
keeping himself before the public. He
closed his course of lectures before tho
Stanford university at Palo Alto by
political harangue, and returned to his
nome to find the public engrossed in
the discussion of the relative mer-,
its of Mckinley and Reed as pres
idential candidates, while he, SO
lately the observed OF all observ-
ers. was passed by as all unknown or
forgotten quantity. He rebelled against
such neglect, and at once set about in
tiating his boom. His newspaper organ
gave him good send-otf. but it made
the mistake of assuming to speak '.by
authority" Mr.. Harrison did not wish
to recognize the right of any newspaper
TO speak for him. and corrected its state
ments in such manner as to convey
the impression that he was able to at.
tend to his own business. without the
aid of organs. He then planned an in.
vasion of the enemy's territory. and,
procuring an invitation to address the
Cincinnati chamber of commerce, he
there declared himself.
Singular as it may seem, Mr.. Harrison
proposes to become candidate for re-
election to the presidency ON his past
record. There is. perhaps, something
IN that record of which he feels proud.
There is. however, nothing in it for
which the public is grateful. 1t was
long record of mediocrity. There IS
nothing great or Statesmanlike in Harri-
son, and naturally all his appointees
were men of the same stamp. With the
exception of Blaine, whom he was
forced to place at the head ut the state
department., there was no man of con-
spicuous ability in his cabinet. Our
foreign representatives were not of such
caliber as TO inspire respect at home or
abroad. Mr.Lincoln and MIR. Reid were
the only exceptions. The administration
was conspicuous for its financial policy.
1t took possession of the government
with surplus of over hundred mill
ions in the treasury. 1t left it
with a deficiency amounting to
almost as much. 1t was "a business
mans administration" from which all
business methods were excluded, and it
left behind it a legacy OF debt and obIi-
cations unprovided for, business plung-
ing into bankruptcy, and all industry
Frustrated
With such a record Mr.. Harrison has
good deal of effrontery, to say the
least, to appear before an association of
business men and institute comparisons
between his own administration and
that which has succeeded it. Shame at
the ruin he had brought upon the coun-
try ought 10 have sealed his lips. But
the itch for Office has dulled all sense OF
shame. and he seems to glory in what
would cause more conscientious men the
deepest modification.
But MI. HARRISON will never again be
president of the United States, and it is
doubtful if he can secure the nomina-
ton of his party. His two most con-
spicuous rivals are far in the lead. Both
are better equipped for leadership. and
either would he stronger before the
people. If Mr.. Harrison is wise he will
not give rein to his ambition, but be
content to fill the role of college lect-
urer and a country lawyer. He is
qualified for such roles. he is not fit.
even after four years. experience, to be
president.