The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-07
From the Philadelphia Times, March LIST.
The Silver Bill a Law.

ulil yesteruay, SUhtlI1B MS reasons
briefly, but sensibly and pointedly.
The veto is a substantial repetition of
his views expressed in his recent an
nual message, and presents no argu-
ment that had not been considered by
Senators and Congressman before the
bill was sent to the Executive. 1t
was proper record for him to make,
and what he has said was due to the
world from the Chief Magistrate of
the Republic.
The bill was promptly taken up in
the House after the reading of the
veto, and passed by vote of l96 to 70,
being II more than constitutional
majority. The Senate considered the
bill at once when the action of the
House was reported, and it was there
passed by vote of 46 to 19, being
more than the requisite number.
Thus the silver bill has become law
over the veto of the President, and it
now is the properly ordained financial
policy of the nation.
While we sympathize in the main
with the particular objections to the
measure as stated in the Presidential
veto, we do not regret its passage over
the objections of the Executive. Had
it been possible to correct the bill in
conformity with the suggestions of
| the veto message, and there end legis-
| lation on the silver question, we
should have been glad to see the veto
sustained; but we must deal with
things as they are, and not from the
standpoint of what, at present, may be
accepted as impractical theories. In
short, we preferred the passage of the
present bill to the inevitable passage
of worse one, and the irritating and
unsettling agitation that must have
followed an appeal by Congress from
| the President to the country in the
present distempered condition of the
public mind on the subject. In such
n struggle, President Hayes has not an
attribute of popular strength to aid
his cause, for his power has been
wasted away by indecision and self
contradictions until every doubt would
be resolved against him by the masses
of all parties.
Had the veto been sustained by
either House, the future business of
the present session of Congress would
be confined to the agitation of the
| financial question. Scores of bills
would be pressed upon the two Houses;
scores of scores of speeches would be
made to inflame the prejudices and
necessities of every locality, and
reason would he given an indefinite
recess in Congressional debates until
the administration yielded to worse
measure, or the country became pre-
pared to overthrow our present fnan
cial structure by the most revolution
ary and destructive statutes. The
nation wants silver currency. 1t
could have been given just as the
President desired it, had he been any
thing more than q scarcely visible
bump on log about Washington and
had the money centres of the nation
understood that the people will have
their own way once in awhile; but
the President played ornamental
cypher and the moneyed men de-
nounced the whole silver movement
as fraud, and the result is that the
people have not only resolved to have
their own way, but to have their own
way of having their own way. And
now silver is remonetized; it is an un.
limited legal tender; it is just as good
as green backs, for they are redeem
able in it; it will jostle gold out Of
commercial transactions and set il
aside as fancy speculative commod
ity, and it will be practically unknown
in the marts of industry and trade.
And now the country wants rest
Its languishing business can stand nc
more doubt and distraction. 1t will
improve under the silver bill if the
money centres are wise enough not t.
obstruct the fair operations of the law
1t will give confidence because people
f believe it to be wise measure, and
confidence is the parent of our lone
, lost thrift. Besides, it is the law o
: the land, and it should command cor
: dial obedience. So much is the die
tate of duty, but if there are thos
| who consider interest as above duty
, we charge them nothing for the hint
f that the present silver bill will eithe
: be faithfully enforced and accepted, o
e more revolutionary laws will follow t.
0 overthrow those who hinder its jus
= trial.
O I'LL, HonSn com 10 L tee on nilitar T.