New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-15
GEN. .HARRISON'S BOOK.
A USEFUL STUDY OF THE MACHINERY
OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

General Harrison is himself inclined to regard
this book with modesty. In tactful preface Nv
disclaims all intention OF appearing before U'e
public as an ambitious author. Nevertheless' lie
has brought within his narrow limits sur
yey Of the National Government In ts ud'S
operation which will be gratefully welcone' p'
a very wide public. Elsewhere the reader may
find elaborate dispositions on our CONSTITUTIONS
as for example in the valuable works OF Story
or Curtis and for special students. there are
hooks like those Of Tocqueville and Mr. Bryce
but nowhere could there be found volume pet
fer ADAPTED 10 popular than this compeh-
dunn of one Of the wisest OF our fresIoe"'S'
Does every citizen know the laws reia''hs ~
the duties of the Executive, the CABINET ti'e
Senate and the House? We are all SUPPOSED -
know them but it is highly probable that 'en-
eral Harrson's succinct explanations VIII thr'"
light upon obscure places for thousahus u
voters. 1000,
rboss ordinations are reinforced by many
anecdotes Writing of the pardoning power
vested IN the President. our author discloses
.,,Io which No outside authority could posi-
Nv, ,rnnart 10 a discussion Of the SUBJECT 10
,bo nsonla II doubtless seems as If pleas loi
pardon could be dealt with by the freSIue"t
in the same daily official manner that IS app'iI"
70 the other details of his executive eAp0
ence. but General Harrison shows now oio'0''
this one of his duties is sure to touoh 'he man
VIII, exists inside the official Events "i'''i"
lie own Immediate knowledge he Arrows u' -
Guess M. but in confirmation Oh MS views nv
cites this story, told by one OF our rresiDe''''
An application for pardon IN ne Dehaa az u "a
roon condemned to death for Nluiuei Na9 T.,
,,o6 70 me and after careful eXahlHdtiion,
seii'Cu 1;oa.;o,, Voc denied On the day before
the day fixed for the execution air .u 49, "' ,ust
house Of friend on WISH, anu i u 80 osLirr
fxro1a
. n renriaye for the condemned man. M
,oaeease had been telephoned TO the nous W
nv friend and received by ms WIv es.eboId we're
nathies and those Of the whole houseno't thorrS
70 onca enlisted for the poor fellow; ana, uiuuh
the gibbet was over twelve hunarea l,i.e' ca
The shadow of it was over the nous 1enitad
W - hanr,ran \ telegram TO the OlHteu
States Marshal. granting snort repiies ocain
sent and the day OF the eXeculIon was "
nv uncomfortable secret.
caneral Harrison writes with manneS' iee''.e
nor he saws cit Is not pleasant 'iii"e :"
.a,o the mower OF life and death Ihere are
nassares in this book touching upon o'"7
nnoses Of the Presidents life when are aiSo "''
pheasant. but General Harrison mehtohs '"e"'
=. 80, sD;rit NJ complaint On the contrary, he
renders a service to his successors anu " @
,,,I,c IN dwelling upon certain abuses which
stand IN urgent need Of reform Ohe u "ie''
=. tho rressnt inNiction upon the President OF
horne
% half home The poorest clerk IN "ashihs-
49,. h.s on unroofed space between his bedroom
"a his desk. but his Chief officer Is confined
.o quarters in which his privacy. goes 10 the
,,.u General Harrison advises the erection OF
. su,tshle building for the Office stan or the
rxecutive and 1t is to be hoped that his words
NAV influence the country to demand through
Its representatives that some such scheme ne
carried out There some amusing PAGES
here too on the indefatgable ofhce-seeKer' lor
whom our author has sympathy, put WHOSE
periodical descents upon the White House TIC
cannot help but deprecate. In this connection
some sagacious words are offered to those WHO
fancy that Washington at the opening OF ne"
Administration is nothing less than ne"
Mecca There are few, If any. of1ces at " ash-
ington" says General Harrison. the salaries Oh
which enable the incumbent to save any money,
and the average experience OF those hoiolhs
places in the departments is If they would ex-
press It, that private business offers better re-
turns and gives a better chance for advance
ment The Civil Service law has given meas
ure of security to the department clerk, but
even with this protection there is sense of in
security and dependence which is not found In
nr,vate pursuits" These words should be
printed by the railroad companies on every other
ticket they sell to travellers leaving for Wash
ington on the opening OF new Administration
But General Harrison does not linger long on
such themes He introduces them as ilustra-
tive of certain sides of the Presidents daily
life following them with brief accounts OF all
the little details of which the public is gem
erellv in ignorance Fe tells how the Pres-
dent receives his callers, official and otherwise,
he describes the procedure Of the Cabinet sets
forth plainly the mnutest relations of the Presi-
dent to the Government, and in so doing
gives a vivid picture of that Government in all
It's departments. 1t may strike some readers
rs complicated As matter Of fact. the
machinery Of official life at Washington Is sim
sularly simple and democratic in the best sense.
General Harrison emphasizes the position OF
the President and his Cabinet as servants of
the public and presents the business OF the
Government as being carried on with an unpre-
tentious method in striking contrast to the
useless red tape associated with many
monarchial centres To paint the Government
thus In it's true democratic colors Is part Of
General Harrisons central aim; he seeks above
all things to inspire in his readers Of
loyalty TO political organism that appeals to
him grounds Of Justice rectitude and con-
nonsense. with ardent love for our
country" he approaches his task, and the tone
Of his book is. for all It's businesslike hand
Inns Of business matters, peculiarly patriotic.
Americans. and especially young Americans
will find abundant timely instruction in these
pages. They will find also a spur to their
affection for the benefcent Government under
which they live and Of which. as General Harri-
son Is careful to tell them, they essential
factor. The volume is provided with an ex-
cellent index Written originally for popular
periodical these chapters couched IN sim
pie language. but having been carefully re-
vised and augmented they possess a permanent
value
NO FLAWS IN HIS STORY