The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-03-07
THE SILVER BILL A LAW.
Press Comments on the Passage OF the !
Over the Presidents Veto.
lChieago Tribune-Repub-I
r,HrnrHr

4" II it were done when tits done, then 'twere /
well 'twere done quickly" Every BODY
feels better that the long agony IS over: FOR
the first time in the political history OF this
country. the West and South struck hands
and acted together, irrespective OF party
lines or antagonism. The West was as solid
as the South, and little more so. The East
was not fully united, for the great Keystone
State went with the West, making the re-
monetization movement irresistible even
against veto. Taking all things into con-
sideration, il is famous victory, and the
vietors are entitled TO sing "Laudamus !"
CASE OF "BREACH OF FAITH"
tst. Louis Republican-Dem.i
1t will be remembered that when the 4
per cent. bonds were first offered for sale
last summer, New York broker asked Sec
rotary sherman how they would be paid,
and the Secretary replied they would be
paid in gold; they were to be sold for gold,
and, said the Secretary, at is not to be an
ticipated that any further legislation OF Con-
gress, or any action Of any department OF
the Government will sanction or tolerate the
redemption of the principal Of these bonds,
or the payment of interest thereon, In com
of less value than the coin authorized by
law at the time of the issue of the bonds,
being the coin exacted by the Government
in exchange for the same" Mr.. Hayes
cites this letter in his veto message, and in
forms us that it was authorized by
the Cabinet; and he adds that in view
OF the promise made in 1t, 1T VIII
be Justly regarded as grave breach OF pub
lie faith to undertake to pay these bonds IN
silver COIN" But who authorized the Cab
met to promise that they should not be paid
in silver? 1t is not the Cabinet, but Con-
gress, that makes laws to "cOin money and
regulate the value thereof" Mr.. Sherman's
letter to the New York broker contained an
assumption of authority without warrant,
and the fact that Congress has done the very
thing he promised it ought not to do, and
would not do, shows that he did not know
what he was talking about. We have had
too much financial law-making by jay
Cooke, John Sherman and other unauthOr-
lied persons who assume to impose obllga-
tiOns on the people without their consent;
and hencefOrth when bOndholder wants TO
know how his bonds will be paid, he will
look not to promises and advertisements OF
the Secretary of the Treasury, but to the law
ITSELF
AN INSULT TO CONGRESS-.
lPittsburg Commercial Gazette-Repub.l
As matter of Presidential prudence, we
regard the veto as practically unfortunate.
President Hayes has been remarkable for
the certainty with which he has managed
to put himself in opposition to the common
sense of the country since he has been IN
office. 1t is impossible to be in Washington
and not know there is a streng undercurrent
OF irritateG feeling among Congressman to-
ward the President. 1t is felt that there Is
no sympathy between them. 1t was because
OF this that Secretary Sherman was so anx-
iOus that he should at least not veto, If he
did mot sign the bill. Prudence, even withref-
erence to legislation relative to silver, would
have led to withholding veto. 1t was clearly
understood that, 1.-THE Presidents flaunt
a veto in the face of Congress after so strong
a vote had been given as to prove its utter
uselesSness, there would be danger of bill
far more extreme in its provisions being
passed. But, to send veto to Congress
after it had fully discussed the subject, de-
claring the bill dishonest, and intimating
that no change in the law should be made
without the consent of the oddities, was to
insult Congress. 1t was certainly an eX-
tremely impudent thing to do. The Presi-
dent could have maintained his consistency
by signing the bill and sending message to
Congress stating his individual views, but
recognizing the uselessness of a veto, or he
might have allowed it to become law by
expiration Of time. OF all possible methods,
he chose the most offensive.
VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE.
Cincinnati Enguirer-Dem.l
Yesterday was an eyentful day in our ma
tional politics.. Its sun went down upon the
glory and independence of the Congress of
the United States, and set upon the shame
of the Administration. Two branches of
Congress, with unfaltering devotion to the
interests of their employees, resisted the
Establishments of the money power, and trOd
the servile opinions of the Administration
beneath their feet with noble ScOrn and
prOmptneSS. The veto message is rs weak
and illogical as it is outrageous. 10 damns
itself......The President hangs all his OBJ
jections to this bill upon the point Of ''im-
pairing the obligations of eOntracts;" and
10 no oh n
It is not the coinage of a new dollar, but the
coinage of an old one that the law authorizes,
and the President should remember that the
SureSt way in which to "1njuriOuslv affect
the public credit" is to weaken the respect
at home for its managers-that public faith
begins at home. The Government should
first keep faith with its own citizens. But
the President advises lying TO ones
wife, swindling ones daughter, cheat
ing his son, and rObbing his en-
plOyer, in order to give q stranger more
than is promised. When b. says it was I'M
derstOOd differently, h only heaps infamy
on the heads of those who have caused the
bonds to be so Understood, as the bonds
them selves say tb 3 shall not be. When he
says that the " s. didard Of value should not
be changed W .thOut the consent Of both
parties to the contract" he unwittingly
takes precisely he position of the Congress
that denOunct such a change in this law,
rectfied it. ut the most infamous veto in
our history j. conquered by the Congress
with Is votes more than the necessary two
thirds in the House, and with three to spare
in the Republican Senate. This is the vie
tory Of the people, whose confidence the
President has forfeited. The man in the
White House clothed with the veto power is
clothed with awful authority. His word
equals One-sixth Of the Congress. 1t bal
ances more than six States, nearly S,OOO,OOO
of people, and ,J00,000 voters. The people
escaped from its tremendous command yes
terday. But this hour teaches, nay COM
mands, the American voters not again to
trust that power to any man who Is not the
unalterable friend of the people upon these
great questions Of finance.
THE PRESIDENTS CONVICTION OF DUTY.
memphis Avalanche-Ind.l
The Presidents veto Of the Senate Silver
bill is not surprise to the country or TO
Congress. The regret we earnestly feel in
the opposition of the President to the restO-
ration Of the dollar of our grandfathers is
mitigated by the reflection that his financial
views are not in harmony with those OF New
England and New York, in which States
public opinion, as far as it is permitted to
have expression, is for the single gold
standard, while the President would have
both silver and gold, provided silver be made
President in his veto adheres to his opinions
as expressed in his annual message to Con-
gress. He is very much like the man who
asserted that the horse was Is feet high, |
and, having so asserted, means to stick TO
it if it takes all winter. Candor
cOmpels us to state, however, that the
President believes he is right, and his con-
victiOns of right and duty to the country /
are to him controlling power, TO which no /
opposition, whether inside or outside of the /
Republican party, is strong enough to /
overcome. The veto did not change vote,
and it will not please the advocates Of a sim
Gle gold standard. The AUdLdnche can not /
refrain from calling the Presidents atten
ton to a wise sentiment he uttered in a
short speech made by him last summer to
Sunday school in Vermont, namely, SIN this /
public opinion is the Government"
There never was measure more thorough
" discussed by the country than the restOra-
ton Of the silver dollar Of our grandfathers
and fathers.