The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-25
The 9ailg Atgus.
Win the silver Bill be Vetoed.

viii the Silver B1- be Vetoed.
Under this head the St. Louis Repu5-
Eacan offers the following sensible remarks:
Both houses of congress have done
their duty with the silver bill and it is now
in Mr., Hayes hands. Will he do has duty
Had congress not passed the bill it would
have failed of what che country demanded,
for it was plain as anything could be that
the country earnestly desired the estab
llshment OF the principle which the bill
provides for, and would not be satisfied
With anything short of it. Congress,
however, did pass it, and the question of
responsibility OF defying the public voice is
now transferred to Mr.. Hayes.
When Gen. Grant came into the pres
idency IN 1869 he declared he should hay
no policy to enforce against the will of the
people, 1t was a patriotic and prudent
utterance, and If Gen. Grant had adhered
to 1t he would have escaped the embar
easements and difficulties that crippled his
administration and inflicted on him so
great loss of the popular confidence.
But he did not adhere to it. He undertook
to enforce personal policy that the people
did not and would not approve, and the
result was San Domingo scheme, a
| treatment of Louisiana and whiskey ring
scandal that estranged the best men in his
party from his administration and caused
the country to grow weary of it long before
10 came to its end. Will Mr.. Hayes repeat
this unfortunate experience of his prede-
cessorI Thesilver bill is before him. He
can approve it. or he can veto it as he NAV
please to. 1t does not matter much which
| ne shall do. so far as the ultimate fate of
the bill is concerned; for the people are de-
termlned to have the whole principle of the
| silver bill adopted and enforced, and thew
nave sufficient numb Der of faithful repre-.
sentatlves In congress to pass 1t in defiance
OF his veto. But it does matter a great
deal to Mr.. Hayes, If ne should dehber-
ately bring himself 10 collision with the
people before the end of the first year of
bis administration, he will not only be de-
teated and Inundated in the contest which
he thus unwisely invites, tut he will bear
the marks OF the shock to the end of mis-
term. Mr.. Hayes is not strong, The
necessities of bis position have compelled
forfeiture of the active support of his
own party. Ample compensation for this
might be found in the active support of
the people; and it was understood a few
months ago that it would be his purpose to
secure this beyond peradventure by adopt
ing a national and popular policy. Can it
be possible that he will estranee the peo-
pie by defying them? Is he as little of
statesman as to iniscalcuate the conditions
of his position, and reject the honest and
legitimate opportunity of power now pre-
sented him? Are the selfish and inter
ested eouusels of John Sherman of more
weight with him than the thouphtful and
earnest demands of his countrymen? If
be imaglnes that he can go through the
form OF vetoing this bill, and it's subse-
quent passage over his head will quiet the
question, he is mistaken. The people will
not forget the class agencies that have
attempted to thwart them in their pur-
pose, and they will not pardon him for
the unwarranted part he has taken in
opposition to their will He will have once
deliberately placed himself in opposition
to the will OF the country, and the country
will not and ought not to forget it. He
will be distrusted to the end of his term.