The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-31
The silver Question in Congress.

The Silver Question IN congress-
Since the passage of the Mathews Silver
resolution, the hopes of the opponents to
the Bland Silver bill rest upon an exceed
ingly narrow basis. The vote in the Sen. |
ate OF the Mathews resolution renderssit
probable that two-thirds vote can be had
for the Silver bill in case of presidential
veto. 1t is thought the debate in the
Senate may be continued for week or
more, but it is conceded that little hopes
are to be placed upon the effect OF any
further debate of the question upon SEN
ators themselves, and it is only expected
that by prolouging the contest some ex-
element may be gotten up among sthe
people, and meetings arranged!kto give
bankers and capitalists a.chance to make
a showing Of their strength and opposition.
Even the certainty of a presidential veto
is not as confidently counted upon as it
was some time since, and several Of the
prominent journals which have predicated
their hopes upon the presidents expected
veto sre now admitting not only the possi-
biIity but to some extent the probability
that he may not interpose the executive
dissent. A strong belief is entertained, it
is said, in Washington Ecircles, that the
introduction and passage.of the. Mathews
resolution was scheme'devised, with the
knowledge and consent of the president,
to prepare the way for the signature of
silver bill. The resolution having been
adopted as it was by.an unprecedently
large vote in both houses of Congress, it
would be easy for the president to say, if
so disposed, that Congress by such an
extraordinary vote first gave ut
terance to its opinion, and
then afterwards affirmed it by
the passage of the silver bill, and that
under the circumstances of such emphatic
and unusually large vote from men Of both
political parties. he ought to accept 1T as
the expressed will of the people and give
it his official sanction. The president is
also said to be strongly imbued with the
doctrine of the old wing party that the
veto power should be employed sparingly
and only in cases of some palpable in-
fringement of the constitution, or where
the pbraseelogy and terms of the bill are
conflicting or, so ambiguously expressed as
to render the meaning and in
tent doubtful or incapable of execution.
The presidents course has so often dis
appointed friends and opponents alike,
that probably no very certain inference
as to his final action upon the silver bill
can be deduced from the language he may
use to those who have conferred with him
upon the subject, and it is therefore al
the more consolotaTy to the friends Of the
RECOMMENDATION of silver to know that its
opponents are seriously doubtful whether
veto would prevent the silver bill from
being passed by the requisite two-thirds
vote in each house. The tone and com.
ments of the eastern press are sufficiently
indicative of their fears, and the frantic
appeals which are made for efforts t,
influence congress and to create stron!
outside pressure, show that they feel tn
solid ground sliding from beneath thei
feet. The contest is emphatically the PEG
pies cause as against corporations an
combined money spectators, stock job
bers, and boDdholders.
- Meanwhile, however, the friends of 81
yer should understand that nothing
gained by undertaking the danger or tn
strength of the combined money influences
1t will require the most earnest and deter
mined efforts of the advocates Of tn
peoples cause to prevent their bein
overpowered and defeated as they have S
often heretofore been. Veto or no veto le
the pressure upon congress be so great tha
the force Of public opinion shall comp,
the representatives of the people I
respect their wishes and legislate for the
interests and their financial relief.
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