The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-02

and dictates National legislation. For
the frat time, perhaps, since the war,
there has been legislation on q question
Of finance which has not been inspired by
and in the interest OF those who live by
gambling in money and public securities.
We congratulate the country on the sub.
stantial money II has gained. We con.
gratulate the Representatives Of the
country In Congress upon the ability,
unity, energy and fidelity they have
shown in the defense and maintenance Of
the public interests. While we regret
that the President has voluntarily shut
himself out OF all participation in the
National victory, the value and the
moral sublimity Of the victory itself Is
only interrupted, because, in the ranks Of
the discomfted, are included the Presi-
dent and his Administration.
New York Times
The President has vindicated his con.
sistency and integrity, il not his courage,
in the veto OF the Silver Bill. He has
taken the only course which could save
him from the responsibility aud disgrace
Of participating, even implicitly, in the
bad faith which the measure involves.
It is unfortunate, perhaps, that the over.
strained reticence he maintained while
the subject was under discussion suggested
doubts Of purpose which should not for
an instant have been susceptible Of mis-.
construction. There may be no strong
reason for believing that any declaration
on the part OF the President at any stage
of the controversy in Congress would
have at all affected the result. The sum.
mary, half.contemptuous manner in
which the veto was disposed Of In both
Chambers, does not indicate the presence
OF personal following in either, or even
a passable degree OF respect for his opin-
ions. But the sense Of duty which com.
PEELED him at last 10 speak would seem
10 have required an earlier attempt 10
relieve himself from misapprehension,
and TO utilize such moral influence as a
President may lawfully exercise for the
furtherance OF his convictions.
On the point OF the public credit alone
the President expresses himself decidedly.
Incidentally, and less clearly, he notices
the effect Of the measure upon pre-exist-
ing private obligations, and his closing
sentences shows he has glimmering OF
the loss its enactment will intlict. The
President has utterly failed to grasp the
significance Of the silver agitation 10 any
other aspect, and has consequently
thrown away the opportunity which the
veto afforded him for exposing the mis-
chievous tendencies Of the measure. To
this extent the message is weak and un-
satisfactory. The statement OF the case
in relation to the public debt is temper
ate and conclusive.
Mr.. Hayes ia cold at the cost Of vigor
and impreasiveness. He realizes the duty
OF keeping National promises with "un-
liinching e Ielity;" declares that the obli-
cation OF public faith traspcends all ques.
tions Of profit or public advantage, and
that "its maintenance ia dictated by expe-
diency as we'll as duty" ALI OF Of which
is good. He declares, moreover, that the
bill authorizes the violation OF sacred
obligations" aud on this ground he de-
cIines to sanction it. II his convictions
as a hnancier were as clear and positive
as his moral convictions, his message
would have been stronger and more
effective. The impression 1t is most like.
ly TO make now ia, that it was prepared
reluctantly, with faint heart, and an
unpleasant consciousness oil the fate that
awaited 1t in Congress.