The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-04-30
Editor.
The Veto.

c...,.rv tn the expectation of everybody,
-. oud opponents of the measure alike, Pres
;d.n, Grant has vetoed the currency bill. 1t
rms the general opinion on all sides, that ne
,-o,ld approve the bill, and his own language
,onv.vs the impression that his mind underwent
a recent change. The passage of the bill was
a.manded by the producing and laboring classes,
ssnecialIy of the West and South, and was op-
nosed by the capitalists spectators and bond
holders everywhere.
This veto is veto also upon Grants hopes of
a third term, even if the prospects were other
wise favorable; and it may also be unfortunate
far the Republican party. Several circumstances
connected with it have an ugly look. 1t has
hsr.tofora been the Presidents hobby, that he
bad no policy of his own. in opposition TO the
will of Congress. In pursuance of this doctrine,
be has approved all bills for the benefit of the
moneyed classes, as well as the bill increasing
the salary of Congressman and doubling his own
salary. But when bill comes up for the relief
of the great producing classes, and of hundreds
of thousands of laJorers throughout the country,
who are ont Of employment and their families
suffering because of the scarcity of currency, he
iuterposes his veto. He does this, too, after hold
ing out the hope that he would approve it, and
not until after receiving visit from delegation
of capitalists and bondhOlders from the money
and stock gambling centre of the nation. His
mind seems to have undergone n change after
that interview. Everything that passed between
them may have been of the most honorable char
acter; but in view of the unenvia'''5 reputation
which the President has borne for his love gifts
and money, the feeling can never be driven from
the public mind that some valuable considera-
tion produced tie change in his mind.
Those who understand the question of finances,
say that the Presidents arguments are not good.
Even the opponents of the vetoed bill not
agreed that its effect would have been imitation.
And the reasons assigned by the President, are
the reverse of his own acts on former occasion.
The only consolation he offers to the suffering
sections, is that there still 100000 of
rency On hand uncalled for, that may be had by
the States which have not received their just
proportion. This sum might benefit the State of
Kansas; but $500 600 distributed among the
whole South aud West, would be but mockery.
The American pocket is q tender place for a
politician or a political party to touch. Gen.
Jackson, notwithstanding his almost unbounded
popularity for squelching Notification, raised a
counter storm by his war upon the United States
throw of his party. Gen Grant, in spite of his
rebellion record, bids fair to follow in the foot
steps OF his illustrious predecessor" 1t is to be
hoped that Grants act may not cause such dis
tress throughout the country as did Jackson's.
1t is worthy of remark, that Pennsylvania and
the West always stand together on these great
public questions, and that they are always
thwarted, not by the voice of the Representa-
tyes of the people, but by the Presidential veto.
It was SO with the National Bank, the Tariff, the
Improvement of Rivers and Harbors, and lastly,
the Currency bill. The East beaten by the peo-
pie, gains her end by controlling and debating |
the interposition of one man.
The question of finance promises to be the
leading issue in the neat Presidential campaign, |
with division and new disposition of parties |
and dinterests-PeuRsylvanis the West and the
South against New England, New York, and the
Pacific States. And it is not improbable that
the great rival leaders in the Senate, Morton and
Conkling, may be the opposing candidates for the
Presidency, as they have been champions of their
respective sides on This currency question. In
this division, notwithstanding the high esteem
in which Conkling has been held, and the oppo-
sition to Morton among a large portion of the
Western people, this opposition would be buried,
and the West would rally to the support of Nor
ton, as the champion of Western industrial in
terests, and in opposition to the champion of
the wealth, the aristocracy, and the mOnopOlies
of the East. In such contest, the result would
hot be doubtful.