Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-10-11
GEN. HARRISON.
Ex-President Makes Statement
On His PoIitica! Attitude.
3ryan's Election Would Be Followed
by Business Confusion
And Bad Cover nment-Has Objections 10 tho
Puerto Rican Bill.

New York, Oct 10-Gen. Benjamin
Harrison gave out an interview and
statement. tonight. He was asked:
rs it true, General, that you have
consented TO make some speeches in
the campaign"
NO; that statement has not been
authorized by me-" was his answer. II
have said to everyone who has spoken
or written to me on the subject that |
could not do any more campaigning
work. ! began to make Republican
speeches the year / began to vote, and
have had a labOrious if not an impor
tant part in every campaign, state and
national. since then until 1898. In 1896
submitted myself to very hard usage
and then made up my mind and so said
to my friends that ] would do no more
campaigning. Following this conclu-
sion, 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 | have. and no ex-
President. ! am sure, has made so
many. Since I left Washington my re-
tirement from all participation in par
~ management iliS bttIl tDllIpItt's All
that I have left to others. and | think
they have very generally and kindly
accepted my sense of the proprieties of
the case-at least between campaigns.
In word. have vacated the choir
loft and taken seat in the pews with
deep sense Of gratitude to my for
bearing fellow cOuntrymen."
But. General, il Is said that you are
not altogether in accord with your
party
We'll. | 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.
consisting Of one rather short sentence,
that ! gave TO the newspapers while
the Puerto Rico bill was pending. II
was in substance that | regarded the
bill as a grave departure from high
principles / still think so. ! do not be-
lieve that the legislative power Of Con
gress in the territories is absolute, and
do believe that the revenue clause re-
lating to duties and imposts applies to
Puerto Rico. These views ! know are
not held by many able lawyers II is
a legal question, one that the political
departments Of the government cannot
fully adjudge The final and controlling
word upon this question is with the SUI
preme court Of the United States. Sases
involving the question are, / under
stand pending and a decision in which
We all musts acquiesce cannot be much
deferred I think. therefore, that voters
ought to vote with a view to the right
decision of these questions that are di-
rectly and finally in the control Of the
President and Congress.
The general reasons | gave in my
Carnegie hall speech in 1896, why Mr..
Bryan should not be elected. still hold
good with me. His election would, ]
think. throw governmental and busi-
ness affairs into confusion. We should
not aid the election Of a President who
would. admittedly. If he could, destroy
the gold standard and other things
that we value even more, upon the de-
ceptive 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 70 allow the man with
destructive tendencies so much as TO
lean against its pillars.
Perhaps il will save you much
trouble II / give you and underwrite
as Of this date, this extract from my
Carnegie hall speech:
When We have a President who be-
lieves that it is neither his right nor
his duty to see that the mail trains are
not obstructed. and that interstate
commerce has its free way. irrespect-
i've Of state lines. and courts fear to
use their ancient and familiar writs to
restrain and punish law breakers, free
trade and free silver will be appropri-
ate accomplishments Of such an admin
istration and cannot add appreciably
to the national distress or the nation
a dishonor.'
The policies Of the Republican party
have been yindicated by the remarka-
bic and general prosperity that have
developed during McKinley's admin
istration, succeeding period Of great
depression. A change of administra-
tion this fall would almost certainly
renew conditions from which we have
have so happily escaped. The full din
ner bucket is not a sordid emblem. II
has a spiritual significance for the
spiritually minded. II means more com
fort for the wife and family, more
schooling and less work for the chill
dren and a margin Of saving for sick
ness and Old age"