The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-14
HARRISON FOR THE SENATE.
Objection Raised that a Bad Prece-
dent Would BE Established.
Washington Post

Washington Post.
1t is the opinion of the New York Mail
and Express that IF Indiana should elect
benjamin Harrison TO succeed Turpie. and
New York should elect Chauncey NJ De-
pew to succeed Murphy, the United States
senate would begin TO revive the prestige
and the glory of other days. when giants.
not Digmies, We're sent to represent SOW
ereign States in the most dignified and in
Huential celebrating body in the world
CUR contemporary appears to regard
General Harrison as a candidate for seat
in the Senate; as if all that would be needed
to put him into that august body would be
Willingness on the part of a majority of
the Indiana Legislature to vote for him.
This is not the view entertained by the ex-
Presidents closest friends They say that
an intimation by him that he would accept
the office would at once cause the with
drawal Of all other candidates and assure
him the cordial support of every Repub>
lican legislator. But these friends of the
eX-PreSident do not expect him to give such
an intimation. On the contrary they believe
that If the Republicans were to tender him
a unanimous nomination his views of the
eternal fitness of things would constrain
him to decline. His friends say that he has
an insuperable objection TO any official po-
sition based on his conception of the dignity
of the presidential Office and the duty Of
those on whom that supreme honor has
been conferred.
There are two sides to the question raised
by this proposition That the people of the
United States might be glad to have the
benefit of the wisdom, experience and pa
trIotism of an eX-President in the Senate
Is conceded. That General Harrison would
be an ideal senator is not questioned He
won distinction during his six years serv-
Ice in that body; and he displayed in the
presidential office a rare combination or
great qualities. Notwithstanding his defeat
for reelection, he won and he holds a place
IN the respect and confidence of the Nation
to which few of our Presidents have at
tanned. For these reasons ii is readily con-
ceIVable that his consent to acceptance of q
seat in the Senate would be hailed with gen.
eral satisfaction.
But would it be advisable as a rule for
eX-Presidents TO accept inferior offices?
When citizen has filled the highest nosi-
ton known 70 our laws-a place than which
there is no higher on earth-would it COM
port with the dignity that attaches to an
eX-incumbent of that Office to begin to de-
scend the scale by taking a lower place?
No one doubts that General Harrison could
be a senator without sacrifice Of dignity or
getting an appetite for office that would i'm
pei him to seek something else in that line
if the opposition should capture his place
But ii is possible that we may have Presi-
dents who. If usage permitted, would be
ready to take any profitable place 1t is I'M
pleasant enough 70 see eX-congressmen de
Welcoming" as Horace Greeley nut IL slilxe
a cows tail downward" IT would be al
most intoerable to see ex-Presidents hun.
gering for spells and grasping at the most
tempting prizes.
A word as to 'pigmies" in the Senate. If
the Mail and Express means to include
Senator Turpie under that head IL errs
egregiously, for Senator Turpie is one of
the most erudite men who have ever held
seats in that body. His political course has
not accorded with the Posts views but his
great learning and sturdy integrity should
exempt him from contemptuous criticism
normal must be conceded: but this is a
temporary decline-the trough between two
waves-and need not discourage the press
or the people. As 70 the New York PROPOSE
ton 10 send Depew 10 the Senate In place
OF Murphy. Il involves no such question as
arises In the Indiana case.