New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-29
HlRRISON'S SPEECH.

or the superb arguments which have already
made this wonderful campaign Of cduca-
ton eX- President Harrison's speech takes rank
among the very first Equal To any other in
many respects rvallng even McKinlcys letter
in simplicity of reasoning and Speaker Reeds
great speech in telling strokes Of humOr and
Senator Shcr1nans o. Bourke Cockrans in eX-
posture of freesilver fallaccs. il dealt more eff
fcctvely than any other effort with at least two
important points II most fitting that ok
President Harrison should be foremost in re-
polling the assault upon his successor. President
Cleveland. for enforcement of the laws against
revolutionary violence and most fitting that an
eminent jurst should be foremost in uphodng
the honor and independence of the Supreme
Court. which lie pronounced THE most digniled
judicial body in the world.
What Mr.. Mckinley wrote. Government by
LAW must first be assured; everything else can
wait" was emphasized by cx-PreSident lIar-
rison. who gave the first place in his address
10 "the question If protecting the power and
duty of the National courts and the National
Executive" In his deliberate opinion tariff
and coinage will he Of little moment if our
constitutional Government is overthrown.
when we have Il President who believes that
't is neither his right nor his duty to see that
Interstate commerce has It's free way. ire
'spectivc of State lines and courts. who fears
Ito Use our ancient and familiar power to re-
"Stric and punish lawbrcakcrs. Free Trade and
free silver will be appropriate accompaniment
"of such IN Administration. and cannot ado
'appreciaby TO the National distress or the Ma
'tional dishonor" His exposure Of the revolu-
tionary spirit which controlled the Chicago Con
Of fha inn IN nj of all 10
appeals yet made TO the sober sense and patriot
tried and honorcd Executive. the descendant Of
another honored President. both distinguished
by patriotic service in the Army, asked whether
the doctrine that was shot TO death in the
great War shall he revived and made victor-
"ous III civil campaign whether the choice
of a President "who believes he must ask Gov
'crnor Atgeld or any other Governor of any
state permission 10 enforce the laws of the
"Unitcd States shall surrender the victory the
boys won in 1851.
Another point the ex-PreSident made with
great effect He showed that las the law is
now. without the passage of any frec-coinage
''act at all. it is in the power of the President
''of the United States to bring the business of
''thc country to "A silver basis. All he has to do
lis let the gold reserve 90. TO pay out silver
"when men ask for gold. and are there al
ready" Right here he might have added that
the Chicago Convention made il one of the chief
accusations against President Cleveland that he
sold bonds To maintain Il gold reserve. and de-
nOunccd that act in such terms that Mr.. Bryan
if President could not he expected to save the
honor of the Nation 10y any such means. Hence
il is that the business world rightly regards the
possibility of Bryan's election as the possibility
of a DEGRADATION to "A Mexican basis not after
a time. but even before a Congress Of any sort
could be summoned could act. II would not
take thirty days. with such a President. TO drive
gold certificates absolutely ont Of use as money
and 10 debase all other currency 10 the value
of the silver bullion in Il standard silver dollar
Ii is a gift Of Mr. Harrison 10 put volumes
Of argument into sentences which 90 round the
world. Much argumen, on the tariff question
was packed into these sentences: Il am quite
"aS much opposed TO cheapcnng the American
"workingmen and working-womcn as | am TO
"cheapening our dollars. am quite as strong
''ly in favor of keeping days work ut home IA
Il am gold" The effects Of the deficiency tariff
in causing loss Of gold by the Treasury in The
excess of merchandise imports. and the conSc
qucn exports Of gold were fifty followed by the
phrase: THE prospect of Republican success
nev"r did disturb business" So volumes of
argument on the money question were crowded
into the sentence THE first dirty GRAND a dirty
dollar does is TO cheat the wOrkingman" Tho
exposure Of the utter futility of every attempt
20 make sixteen ounces of silver equal one ounce
of gold. when they are not equal. one of The
clcarcst and best yet made. even in This fruitful
campaign. For already. II may he SAID with
strict truth, the American people have risen 10
higher understanding Of the money question:
and have had placed before them within one
month more elevated and convincing arguments
regarding ii than in any other entire year in
their history.