The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-06-04
Aud Sou wRa seet;

AS was expected, the Presiden
has returned the Legislative Appro
priation bill unsigned, and in the &C
companying message his objections
are stated with that precision and
logical strength which have become
characteristic. There was, indeed,
little room for doubt as to the propel
line of argument to pursue. By theil
amendments 10 the vetoed bill the
Democrats had aimed st ne~utFslisine
the wholesome supervision which ths
Federal government at present exer
cises over the eouduct Of Congress
sional elections. Their ACTION wal
prompted by the same spirit as tbs'
which in 1861 led to the secession o.
the southern States and preelpitated
the war of the rebellion. 1t wal
quite in keeping with the traditions
of the Democratic party. The hos
tility Of that party to the nationa'
government is coeval with its exist
enee, Gnl this sttempt at transferring
to the several States the authority
which belongs to the United States
alone is no more than its latest zlsn
Hesitation.
Yet 10 their proposed repesi of tbs
election. laws the advocates of such
action we're Influenced by a double
motive, Not only did they design tc
increase the power of single States al
the expense of Federal authority, bet
they also intended to obis;s sneh q
control of the ballots Is would ena'
bic them to roll up msjorities other.
wise unobtainable. Conscious OF
their real weakness, they appreciated
the necessity OF Kidding themselves
of a supervision 50 materially inter.
iering with the success of operations
upop which their supremacy 10 Con.
gress depends. So they raised q
great cry about tao sscredness Of
State rights, and the improperly OF
the Federal government c6neeI ming
itself ia the election of the body that
makes the Federal laws. They
worked themselves up in . Gne fren-
zy Of Indignation over the oppression
involved in checking the industry OF
New York repesters, and exclaimed
aloud against the despotism whieh
protected the colored voter of the
south in the exercise of the freed
map's privilege. Then they tackled
on amendEeptg 70 an appropriation
bill repeating TIE iavs which they
found so i~nconvepient, ana as TIC az
erage Democratic politician never
anything, it is even possible
thet some of them saw visions of q
ceereed signature.
They know better soy. The Pres
ident makes short work of tieis ia
bored arguments, and goes clear to
the root of the matter. He shows
that IRON the beginning the election
Of Eongresspep Las been regarded as
3 matter Of national concern and
what concerns tee nation il 10 essen.
.ial for the national authorities to su-a
This right 10 endorsed by
he Constitution in such o mspaer
bat even if the government we're
30 etsndon it, so to d. would
be q eulpa6is E,alfeassnce. The
Democrats advanced tbs plea that
he supervision ordered by law is l1-,
constitutional, and then, ne the Pres.
dent points out, they stuliify them
by providing for the appoint
nent OF na:icnal supervisors, while
1t the same time 90 circpmscribing
heir authority hat their appoint.
is an empty farce. This last
yeto leaves the Democrats no ground
stand on, and the only thing LEFT
or them to do Is to Fs.yesi from their
idiculous position with wat grace
hey msy-NorH 1mericon.