Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/43

BENJAMIN HARRISON 23 The Bering sea controversy, now happily in set tlement by arbitration, was full of difficulty when Mr. Blaine s sudden illness threw the burden of the matter for a time upon President Harrison. Lord Salisbury was delaying, the season for pelagic seal ing was coming on, no modus vivendi had been agreed upon. President Harrison took measures for intercepting the Canadian sealers, and it was not long until the terms of the treaty were ar ranged. The statement of the "five points" sub mitted to the arbitrators by the treaty is a good specimen of President Harrison s thorough and comprehensive work. Eastern journals that were not friendly to President Harrison have gener ously united in endorsing the conduct of the State Department during his administration, and have especially commended it for being thoroughly pa triotic and American. And it may be said from the time of his nomination until he retired from the presidential office he sustained himself with a dig nity and ability commensurate with the responsi bilities of his exalted station. His policy in regard to the tariff has been censured, but he simply main tained the views held by the majority of the Re publican party, with which he has always been in sympathy. He is what may properly be called an out-and-out protectionist. His firm stand in favor of honest money gave confidence to the business in terests of the country when they were imperilled by