The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-28
Danger that the silver Bill VIII
Become Law.

Stanley Matthews resolution is not wholly
unwarranted by the facts of the situation.
If every Senator who voted against the
Matthews resolution could be securely re-
lied upon to vote also against the Bland bill
the four nnti-silver Senators who were
paired would barely suffice, when
added to the twenty-five, for prevent
ing the repassage of the bill over
veto. But it is found on examination that
three of the twenty-five are more or less IN
oculated with the silver virus. These three
are Senators Blaine, Window and Pad
dock. Mr. Blaine, in the remarks
he made to explain his vote conceded
some of the leading positions OF the sill
YER namely, that the bonds are
legally payable in silver coin. and that in
whatever silver bill is passed no exception
must be made in favor of the public cred
itors. Mr.. Blaine declared that, although
opposed to the Bland bill, he favors the re-
monetization of silver on basis which he
intends to propose. AS he is already pre-
pared to go rather more than half way to
the Bland bill his vote after q veto may be
regarded as doubtful. Mr.. Window stated
explicitly that his vote against the Matthews
resolution did not commit him either way
on the Bland bill. "When the bill is pre-
sented," he said, II shall vote as think the
interests of the country require" Mr.. Pad
dock made what looks like declaration to
vote for the Bland bill. His language
was:-'When the proper opportunity is
presented shall vote for the most liberal
coinage and the fullest practicable use sill
ver." In view of the rel(arks of these three
Senators in connection with their votes
nobody need feel any surprise if the Bland
bill should pass the Senate by two-thirds
majority
Nothing is gained by undertaking the
danger. It will require the most strenuous
efforts Of all advocates Of honest money to
save the country from this worst form Of re-
pudiation. Public meetings should at once
be called in all the business centres and the
Senate be flooded with petitions. Mean
while the debate must be protracted in the
Senate until the pressure of public senti-
ment can be brought to bear upon the mod
crate silver men. The country has hereto
fore given this subject too little attention,
because it thought it had complete protec-
ton in the veto of the President. But the
veto will amount to nothing unless sound
public opinion makes itself felt in the two
houses and even the President may need
little stiffening from the same source.
We believe the President M cant right when
he wrote his Message, and that he has not
vet changed his mind. But what mean the
rumors put in circulation by the silver men
that he will not veto the Bland bill? On
what feature of Mr.. Hayes character do
these men reason or speculate in reaching
this conclusion? Of course he has not said
that he will not veto the bill any more than
he has said that he will veto it but his
Message SO explicitly condemns its princi-
pie that the President cannot consistently
sign it. The silver men, perhaps, expect
him to conclude at last, when the bill shall
have passed both houses by more than two
thirds, that veto will then be of no use,
and that he will let the bill become a law
without signing it by the simple lapse of the
ten DAYS. We think this q mistaken
calculation at any rate, it is the plain duty
| of the President to send back SO mischievous
bill with his objections, and trust that the
| force of his reasons will induce some who
originally voted for it to absent themselves
| when the second vote is taken.
| We think the President deserves censure
for his neglect to exert any influence against
| this pernicious legislation beyond the dec
larations of opinion contained in his Mes
sage. He is entirely too fastidious on the
subject of intercourse between the two ends
| of Pennsylvania avenue. The government
was not instituted for the maintenance Of a
distant and priggish dignity between its two
most important departments Congress
and the Executive are equally SER
wants of the people, elected to act
| in harmony for the common well
fare. There are many ways in which
o strong President can exert a quiet infu.
ence on legislative measures without any
violation of official decorrm. OF course he
cannot do this if he SYSTEMATICALLY holds
himself aloof and repels intercourse with
the leading minds of Congress-, warning
them that he wishes them to mind their own
business AZ he minds his. What is the adj
vantage to political party Of electing both
President and Congress pledged to its
principles if The influence Of the former is
to be nudity until matters have got be-
yond control? This was not the theory OF
President Hayes himself at the time Of his
accession to Office. There is conclusive evil
dence that he did not then think that he
had no right to concern himself with legis-
lative measures while they were under con-
sidcration in the two houses. Why did lie
interfere with the Senatorial election in Ohio
to fill the vacancy caused by Mr.. Sherman's
acceptance of n place in the administration
Had it not been for his interference Mr..
Garfield would have been elected instead OF