Evening star., 1900-10-11
HARRISON SPEAKS OUT
FORMER PRESIDENT IS OPPOSED TO
W. }. BRYAN.
Thinks, as He Did in 1896. the Ne.
braskan's Election Would
He n Mistake.

General Benjamin Harrison gave out an
interview and statement in New York last
night regarding the issues OF the cam
pagn. He was asked:
is it true. general. that you have con-
sented to make some speeches in the cam
p.ignT'
mo; that statement has not been au-
thorized by me-" was his answer Il
have said to every one who has spoken or
written to me on the subject that / could
not do any more campaign work. L began
to make republican speeches the year /
began to vote and have had a laborlous,
If unimportant. part in every campaign
state and national. since and until 1898. In
1896 | submitted myself to very hard usage
and then made up my mind. and 50 said
to my friends. that would do no more
campaigning Following this conclusion, /
declined to take a speaking part in the
campaign of 1898. My retirement dates
from that year. not from this. Few men
have made more speeches for their party
tnan l have, and no ex-Presdent | am
sure. has made more. Since 1 left Wash
ington my retirement from all participa-
ton in party management has been COM
plete- All that | have left to others and
| think they have very generally and kind
~ accepted my sense of the propreties of
the case, at least between campaigns. In
a word, | have vacated the choir loft and
taken seat in the pews, with deep
sense of gratitude to my forbearing fellow
cCuntrymen-"
But general. it is said that you are not
altogether in accord with your party
Well. | have heard that my silence was
imputed by some to that cause. Now the
only public utterance | have made in criti-
cism of the policies of the party was con-
tanned in the interview, consisting of one
rather short sentence, that l gave to the
lit -Il ID
pending.
1T was. in substance. that I regarded
the bill a grave departure from right
principles. | still think | do not he
lieve that the Legislative power of Con-
gress in the territories is absolute-ani |
do believe that the revenue clause reiat-
ing 10 duties and imposts implies to Porto
Rico. These views l know are not held
by many able lawyers 1t is a legal ques-
tion-one that the political departments of
the government cannot fully adjudge. The
final and controlling word upon this ques-
ton is with the Supreme Court of the United
States Cases involving the question. are. /
understand. pending. and decision. I'm
which we all must acquiesce. cannot be
much deferred. / think. therefore. that
voters ought 10 vote with a view in the
right decision. of those questions that
directly and finally in the control of the
President and Congress.
THE general reasons l gave in my Car
negie Hall speech in 1896 why Mr.. Bryan
roe. His election would, | think, throw
governmental and business affairs into
confusion. We should not aid the elec-
tion of President who would admitted
ly. if he could. destroy the gold standard
and other things that We value even more
upon the deceptive suggestion that he has
been bound and that the republican party
will. after defeat, still have strength
enough to save the temple. 1t will be
much better not to allow the man with
destructive tendencies so much as to lean
against its pillars.
Perhaps ii will Eve you much trouble
IL / give you, and underwrite as of this
date. this extract from my Carnegie Hall
speech: When we have a President who
believes that II is neither his right nor his
duty to see that the mail trains are not
obstructed, and that interstate commerce
has its free way, irrespective of state lines,
and courts that fear to their ancient
and familiar writS to restrain and punish
lawbreakers, free trade and free silver
Will be appropriate. Accomplishments of
such administration and cannot add
appreciabiy to the national distress or the
national dishonor.'
The economic policies of the repubi-
can party have been vindicated by the
has developed during Mr.. Mckinley's ad-
n,inistration-succeeding a period of great
depression. A change of administration
this fall would almost certainly renew
conditions from which have so happily
escaped The full dinner bucket is not a
sordid emblem. II has spiritual signifi-
canoe for the spiritually minded. 1t means
more comfort for the wife and family
more schooling and less work for the chill