The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-10
For Secretary OF State.

For Secretary OF State.
There is one man." remarks the FL
mira Advertiser. whom the cleo
tors who voted for Mckinley on Tues
day last, irrespective Of past politlcai
affiliations, would welcome with great
acclaim to the position Of secretary OF
state That man is BENJAMIN Harrl-
son, The nation has a right TO COM
mand his service in that most import
ant position at the present time. NO
more honorable place exists in the gov
ernment for a past president to serve
his country and the Advertiser feels no
other man is now living whom the
people of the whole land would well
come to that position with the confi-
dence and esteem that they would
Benjamin Harrison"
These are our sentiments to a i. IN
fact, we made observations of u SINH
lar character more than six months
ago. When General Harrison withdrew
his name from consideration In connec-
ton with the last Republican presi-
Dental nomination. The Tribune called
attention to the need Of his services in
the next national administration and
suggested that in no other sphere or
usefulness ouside of the presidency
itself could his ripe judgment ana
sound Americanism be 50 productive
of lasting good as in the position of
nj &c, tNn or - a
constitutional lawyer and exceptionally
well fitted to treat with effectiveness
the broad questions Of international!
law and comfy which constantly arise
In that department of the government,
but his very presence in the next cabi-
net in an advisory capacity would be
a tower of strength to the whole na-
tion. The province of our foreign af-
fairs is one which during the next four
years will call for the maturest scholar
ship and the most enlightened states
manship which can be found In the
ranks of our public men. There are
other men who could serve with credit
and honor in this position, but there
is none other whose appointment would
go so far to dignity our diplomacy and
extend respect among all civilized ma
tions for our flag.
Nor can we perceive any lack OF
propriety in the suggestion. The sup
position is not for an instant tenable
that President Mckinley would wish
to invite less than the utmost possible
sum of experience and ability to the
control Of the premier office in his cabi-
net, or that General Harrison would
feel sense of shrinka2e in stepping
from the head of the executive council
table to the right hand place. On the
contrary, there would be in such a
dignified transposition one of the most
eloquent of conceivable demonstra-
tons of the grandeur and nobility of
American institutions-a demonstra-
ton which would prove to the world
how small after all. are the ordinary
distinctions of titular rank in compari-
son with the obligations of patriotic
citizenship in a government founded ON
equality Of civic rights.
1t is possible that official position nc
longer holds out allurments to the
eX-president. 1t is possible that he
would prefer the honorable activities OF
private station and the undisturbed
serenity OF domestic joys. Yet as we
look at this proposition it represents nc
inconsiderable element of duty. The
citizen whose fitness for an important
trust is 50 plainly manifest and. indeed
so paramount as his cannot without
the suspicion of selfishncss decline q
call founded on his countrys needs
We are morally certain that the cal
will be rendered, and we are equally
certain that il should not be declined