The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-10
The New Departure.

All the long -standing controversies OF our
politics, all conflicts, intrigues. and schemes
respecting offices and candidates, all the
ordinary political questions of the day,
must sink into comparative unimportancc
In view OF the more vital and momcn-
tous issue which has been raised and which Is
soon to absorb the attention OF the people TO
degree without precedent, unless we may
find one in the times Of the civil war and OF
reconstruction.
This great and overmastering Issue Is
.,reny whether the constitutional preroga-
tive of the Representatives of the people
shall be maintained and enforced against
the will Of party and the dietation Of the
Executive.
What is this prerogatve? II is set forth
In the first article and seventh section of the
Constitution OF the United States "All bills
for raising revenue shall originate In the
House Of Representatives" In other words,
the House OF Representatives has exclusive
original power over the purse OF the nation.
II is the right and the duty Of that House to
determine for what purposes the money OF
the people shall be appropriated. This 1t is
which makes that House peculiarly the
guardian OF liberty. When 1t is called upon
10 appropriate money to be used for pur-
poses hostile TO liberty, 1t is the duty OF the
House to refuse. II is its duty likewise 10
stand firmly in such refusal Not one cent
should 1t grant for ends antagonistic TO the
spirit and the ancient usages OF our free
government.
The cry is already raised that in insisting
upon its amendments to the appropriation
bills, tho late House OF Representatives
went beyond its proper authority, and that
1t had no right TO demand that these amend
ments should be enacted as the one condi-
ton without which appropriations should
not be voted. This is a false cry The
authority Of the House was perfect, and
1t was conferred by the Constitution
for the very purpose Of making it bar
rer and a bulwark against Executive
encroachments and against all undertakings
perilous to republican self-government. The
doctrine upon which the House stood in in
ssting upon these amendments was the
essential doctrine OF the Constitution. 1t
was the venerable doctrine Of popular rights,
descended TO our fathers and to US from
the ever memorable struggles between the
King and the Commons OF England.
In this doctrine there Is nothing new,
nothing revolutionary, nothing unsound or
doubtful 1t is a doctrine centuries old.
1t lies at the root OF our republican institu-
tons. 1t is the very corner stone OF freedom.
The struggle is to be renewed in the APP
preaching extra session OF Congress. SO
We are told by the organs which Speak for
the present Executive. Very well; we well
come it, 1t is wholesome struggle, and
not renewed q moment too soon. We have
no fears respecting the decision which the
American people will finally recgld upon
this great question; and once more we en-
phatcally commend those wise and far
seeing members Of the recent Congress who
raised this noble ISSUE lifting our political
interests out of the lower ruts Of personal
ambition, local disputes, and petty objects
into the high and clear air Of constitutional
md permanent principles.