The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-11
NOT QUITE IN ACCORD.
Gen. Ben Harrison Still Thinks
Porto Rican Tariff Wrong.

New York. Oct. 11.-General Benjamin
Harrison has given out the following
interview:
rs it true that you have consented to
make some speeches in the campaign"
mo, that statement has not been au-
thorized by me-" was his answer
L have have said to every one who has
spoken or written to me on that sub
ject that could not do any campaign
work began to make Republican
speeches the year I began to vote, and
had a laborious, If unimportant part in
every campaign, state and national,
since, until 1898. In 1896 l submitted
myself to very hard usage and then
made up my mind, and so said to my
friends, that / would do no more cam
paigning. Following this conclusion I
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 than l have and no eX-president,
I am sure, has made more Since L left
Washington my retirement from all par
ticipatiOn IN party management has
been complete. All that 1 have left to
others, and I think they have very gen.
orally and kindly accepted my sense Of
the prOprieties of the case-at least be-
tween campaigns. In a word, / have
vacated the choir loft and taken a seat
in the pews-with a deep sense of graf
itude to my forbearing fellow country
men"
But general, it is said that you are
not altogether in accord with your
party"
tsWeIl. I have heard that my silence
was imputed by some to that cause. Now
the only public utterance / have made
in criticism of the policies of the party
was contained in the interview consist
ing Of one rather short sentence, that
I gave to the newspapers while the
Porto Rico bill was pending. It was, in
c1f1 I lad ha G
a grave departure from right principles.
I still think so. I do not believe that
the legislative power OF congress in the
territories is absolute-and / do be-
neve that the revenue clause relating
to duties and imports applies to Porto
Rico. These views know are not held
by many able lawyers. It is a legal
QueStiOn-Oue that the political depart
ments Of the government can not fully
adjudge. The final and controlling word
upon this question is with the supreme
court of the United States. Cases in
volving the question are, 1 understand,
pending and a decision, in which we all
must acquiesce, can not be much de-
ferred. I think. therefore, that voters
ought to vote with view to the right
decision of those questions that are d.
rectly and finally in the control Of the
president and congress.
1.-THE general reason I gave In my
Carnegie hall speech in 1896 why Mr.
Bryan should not be elected still holds
good with me. His election would, l
think, throw governmental and business
affairs into confusion We should not
aid the election Of a president whowould,
admittedly, if he could. destroy the gold
standard and other things that we value
even more upon the deceptive sugges-
ton that he has been bound and that
the Republican party will. after defeat,
still have strength enough to save the
temple.
1T win be much better not to allow
the man with destructive tendencies 50
much is to lean against its pillars
Perhaps it viii save you much trou-
bic if 1 give you, and underwrite as Of
this date, this extract from my Carne-
gle hall speech:
e When we have a president who be-
heves that it is not his right nor his
duty to see that the mail trains are not
INSTRUCTED, and that interstate com
nerce has its free way, irrespective Of
state lines, and courts that fear to use
their ancient and familiar Writs TO re-
strain and punish law breakers. free
trade and free silver viii be appropriate
accomplishments Of such an administra-
ton and cannot add appreciably to the
national distress or the national dis
honor
1.-THE economic policies Of the Repub-
Iican party have been vindicated by the
remarkable and general prosperity that
has developed during Mr.. Mckinley's ad-
CONFERENCE.-The a period OF
great depression. A change Of this ao-
ministratiOn this fall would almost GER
tainly renew conditions from which We
have so happily escaped The full dinner