Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/41

BENJAMIN HARRISON 21 it is pleasant to be brought face to face with any one so manly and high-minded as Mr. Harrison shows himself in the book you sent me. The per petual demand which American customs make upon anyone of the least position in the way of speech- making must be very trying. In a degree (not within 1,000 miles of the president) I found it so myself when I was in America. But a private for eigner may say what he likes; a president, of course, must watch his words." It was assumed that with Mr. Blaine in the cabi net President Harrison would be a very inconspicu ous and unimportant person in the administration. It is one of the marked characteristics of the man that when he is assigned to a place he assumes all its responsibilities. As a lawyer he never shouldered himself to the front, but when placed in the lead he was the leader. The simple fact is, he was not for a moment overshadowed by any member of his cabinet. He insisted upon knowing what was go ing on in each department and maintained an intel ligent supervision of them all. Nor is it detracting from the just fame of Mr. Blaine to say that by reason of that gentleman s failing health the work of the State Department was much more than usual the work of the president. Those who have known him long did not fail to see his hand in the discus sion of the legal rights of aliens domiciled here, contained in the dignified note to the Italian gov-