Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-16
THE LEAN STATESMAN.
Opinions of Alexander III. Ste
phenS on the Condition of
National Politics.

Atlanta Constitution.
WASHINGTON, April Soon after the
adjournment of the house to-day your
correspondent called at the rooms of
PR. Stephens, OF your state, when the
following conversation ensued:
WELL said your correspondent,
"you have passed the army bill in the
house at last?"
"Yes," said Mr.. Stephens, "and by a
very decided majority"
COrreSpOndent-What was the vote?
Mr.. Stephens-One hundred and for
weight for it and one hundred and
TWENTY-FIVE against it, giving twenty-six
majority for the bill with the repeating
clauses in it. The bill was stronger
than the democracy. 1t received the
vote OF every democrat and all the
greenbaCkers except two.
COrrespondent--Will it probably pass
the senate as in the house?
Mr.. Stephens---l have no doubt of it..
IL NAV De discussed there a week or ten
DAYS, but | have no doubt that il will
pass there just as it went from the
house.
Correspondence about the veto;
and il Mr.. Hayes does not veto it, what
then? Many of the radicals say he GER
tainly will veto it.
Mr.. Stephens---I know some OF them
saw So, hut do not think he will.
10 not see upon what grounds he could
place a veto. Netoes have heretofore
rested upon grounds OF uncOnstitutiOn-
ality or hasty and incOnsiderate legls-
lation. But the president certainly
could not hold the position that 1t Is
unconstitutional to repeal any law
whatever, whether he thinks the law r.
peaied was constitutional or not.
Nor could he hold that this is hasty or
inconSiderate legislation, for il has been
the subject of discussion Tor upwards OF
fourteen wears. Since the beginning OF
the government no act of congress re-
pealing an act was ever vetoed by
president. Moreover, Mr.. Hayes was
reared i'm that school of politicians who
were opposed to the exercise OF veto, in
any case, and one OF the grounds Tor
which lac voted for the impeachment OF
Andrew Johnson was his exercise OF
veto power. 80 | do not in any event
expect a veto. Ii he does not wish 10
sign the bill, with his approval, he may
let n become a law 10y not returning II To
the house within ten days after it is
presented 10 him; and in that event 1t
would become a law under the cOnstltu-
ton without his signature or approval.
80 do not expect any veto; still, there
is very little certainty what any man IN
public or private life will do nowadays.
But i'm reply to your question what
then i'm case ne does veto it?' All |
have 10 saw now is that sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof.
Correspondent-.H the democrats
any clearly defined line of policy on
these questions? And what seems to
be the trouble about progressing with
the business?
Mr.. Stephens-A large majority Ofthe
democrats are decidedly in favor OF the
renewal of an unlimited coinage of sill
yer. England and Germany are about
10 change their policy on the silver queS-
ton. 4 like majority OF the democrats
are also in favor Of an increase IN the
volume Of currency, resting upon a
sound basis. Some are i'm favor Of coin
and bullion certificates, such a. suggested
by me. Some are IN favor OF the ISSUE
al greenblcks backed by the faith and
credit of the government for their re-
demption. But these points of differ
ence could easily be recOncilcd on con-
sultatiOn. The object on all sides IS re-
lief against present contraction and such
r,.,,ri A. shall be founded upon the
Soundest principles OF political economy;
thrpe-fnuTths are in favor OF mOdlnca-
ton of the present iniqoitOus system ol
internal revenue and three-tourthS OF
them. nav, nine-tenthS OF them are IN
favor of a modification of the present
UNEQUAL and unjust tariff. "A like pro-
portion, think | may say, are IN hvor
of repeating the present prohlbltory TAX
ON state banking. On all these, as well
as other important questions, an over
whelming majority of the democrats IN
the house are for remaining here ana
legislating i'm correcting the abuses ana
rrtlrming the evils of the maladministra-
ton of public of affairs ot the last ten
wears which has reduced the country To
its present deplOrable condition. Inc
trouhle of progressing with this business
of reform IS this: About twenty demo
crats-perhaps hardly so many-repre-
sent what may be styled without otfense
rs the noneyed power OF the country
This small minority OF the party are IN
full accord with the majority on the
questions involved in the army bill; out
thew are utterly opposed 10 disturbing
the existing status of the financial cur
reprv and taxation questions, hence
few of the timid and time-serying' VINO
agree with a great majority Of the party
a. 10 necessary reforms, go with thls
smell minority rather than spht the
marty. This | think, is correct
statement of the issue. Hence thlnS
unless public sentiment is aroused ana
the democracy throughout the land shall
~, iully awakened to the Responsiveness
resting upon them and the expectations
of our oppressed people from the Atlan-
tic 10 the Pacific, and from the gun 10
the lakes, there can be little hope ior
any Improvement in our existing state
al affairs from the present session. OF
-. 81, ,,-osa,,f CONGRESS.