The New President.

Manawatu Herald, 15 November 1892, Page 2

The New President.

It is now asserted thnfc Mr Cleveland | is assured of election ns President of the United States of America. There naturally has been intense anxiety in the States, as not only is the election most important from party views but this last election means the practical upsetting of the protection policy of the Republican party. However excellent such a policy might have proved for the citizens of the States, for outsiders its action was most appalling, as we have learnt from day to day by cablegrams from Great Britain. The President, General Harrison, appears to ha a most excellent man, having taken but little part in politics until the campaign in which Mr Garh'eld was elected President. He was a" prominent speaker on his behalf, and accepted from Mr Garfield a seat in the United States Senate, though ho declined the offer of a portfolio. Asa Senator he became known as an advocate of protective duties on imports, of a reform in the Civil Service, and of a restoiation of the American Navy. In 18SS he was nominated for President and elected. An enthusiastic writer says of him : " No one has ever filled the Presidency with more efficiency, Ho has met promptly and ably every demand that has been made upon him, and has given ample evidence of the possession of an immense fund of reserve power ; A Christian without bigotry ; a pah'iot without sectionalism, a statesman without nai*rowness ; a poli tician without bitterness ; a soldier without vanity ; a popular leader > without vulgarity, he stands before I the world as a typical American." The successful candidate, Mr Stephen Grover Cleveland, was elected President in November, 1884, and was defeated by General Harrison in 1888. and whom he has now in his turn defeated. Mr Cleveland devoted his annual message, in 1887, mainly to the advocacy of a reduction in tariff duties in order to prevent tha farther increase of the surplus in the United States Treasm*y, which was already large and which threatened to cause financial difficulties. The discussion furnished the issue to be fought in 1888, and caused the defeat of the Democratic party. The effects of the strictest protection under McKinley's Bill does not seem to have been appreciated by the general population, and they have arisen in their might and replaced the Freetrade champion. The issue may be of very vast importance to Australia, as during the last term of office of Mr Cleveland, it was proposed to admit wool duty free, if this should be again proposed and carried we shall all have very much cause to be thankful at the result of the election. Mr Cleveland has a good record, as it was in recognition of his reformed methods of administering the city of Buffalo's affairs that caused him to be elected Governor of New York by a majority of nearly 200,000 votes over his opponent. This again led to his nomination for the Presidency. During his term as President the country had a period of great prosperity and the nation was increased by the additions of four new States. The two candidates appear therefore both excellent men, and the fight has been that of Protection or Freetrade, and we are extremely pleased that the supporters of Freetrade appear to be the most numerous section of the population of the United States.