SPEECHES
of
BENJAMIN HARRISON
Twenty-third President of the United States

PREFACE.

It is not the purpose of this book to present a few selectionsof oratory, laboriously prepared and polished, oroccasional flashes of brilliant thought. From such efforts,prepared, perhaps, after days of study and repeated revision,one can form but an imperfect idea of their author.Such a compilation might show the highest conceptions ofthe man, and evidence a wide range of thought and a surpassinggrandeur of expression; but it would be but apoor mirror of the man himself in his daily life.

It is due to the people that the largest opportunity begiven them to observe the character of their public servants,to come into closest touch with their daily thoughts,and to know them as they are—not when prepared forspecial occasions, but day after day and all the time. Itis with this view that this collection of the speeches ofPresident Harrison is offered to the public. It is a seriesof instantaneous photographs that have caught him unawares.The studied pose is wanting, but the pictures aretrue to life.

There are included the letter of acceptance, the inauguraladdress, the letter to the commercial congress, extractsfrom his last annual message to Congress, his patrioticmessage on the Chilian affair, and a few carefullyprepared speeches, among them his notable addresses at thebanquet of the Michigan Club, February 22, 1888, and beforethe Marquette Club at Chicago, March 20, the same year;also his celebrated speech at Galveston, in April last. Allthese are among the best models of statesmanlike thought...