Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-26
From the Boston Journal.
Politicians with Defective Memo.
rinS

ries.
If the public had not ceased to be sur
prised at any line of action which the
democratic leaders in Washington may
choose to adopt, it would be astonished at
the declarations of certain democratic
Senators during Friday nights session to
the effect that, as party, they had never
contemplated refusing to make the usual
appropriations for the running of the gov
eminent. True, it was less than three
months since that nearly every democrat
ic paper in the country was applauding
democratic Congressman who had ex-
pressed determination to give the Presi-
dent his choice between having no money
voted to keep the wheels of Government
in motion and approving the appropria-
ton bills with provisions repeating the
Federal election laws and statutes confer
ring power upon the President. True,
the Congressional Record contains score
or more of speeches of democratic leaders
in the House in which this threat is dis
tinctly stated. The newspaper reader re-
members that every democrat in the last
House applauded Mr.. Hewitt when he
said that no appropriation bill should be
passed that did not contain the political
riders, and that Mr.. Blackburn declara-
ton to the present House that the issue
between the President and Congress would
be forced, and that it was no time for cow
ards or dastards, was greeted with up
roarous approval. Those democratic SEN
tors who on Friday night devised pur-
pose to withhold supplies in order to
coerce the Executive, are the victims of
sadly treacherous memories.
Unfortunately for them, at the present
time. the Congressional Record has been
regularly printed, and, although they
have revised their speeches. that remorse-
ly chronicler OF words spoken in debate
gives the sentiments of every Senator and
Representative upon the subject. Toward
the close of the last session, Senator
Thurman foreshadowed the democratic
action on this question as follows:
perhaps no greater question in the form
we are brought to consider it, was ever con-
sidered by the American Congress in time of
peace, for it involves not merely the merits
or dement's of the laws which the House bill
proposes to repeal but involves the rights,
the privileges, the powers, the duties of the
two branches of Congress and of the Presi-
dent pf the t'nttat Sfatps ia a
ton, it is a question whose importance can
scarcely be estimated. 1t is question
that never yet has been brought so sharp
ly before the American Congress and
the American people as il may be now.
1t Is a question which must sooner or later
be decided, and the decision must deter
mine what are the powers of the House OF
Representatives under the Constitution and
what is the duty of that House in the view of
the trainers of the Constitution according to
its letter and its spirit. Ii
is the question whether or no the House of
Representatives has the right to say we will
grant supplies only upon condition that griev-
ances are redressed. We are the representa-
tlves OF the taxpayers of the republic. We,
the House of Representatives, alone have the
right to originate bills which grant the money
of the people. The Senate represents States,
we represent the taxpayers of the Republic.
We, therefore, by the very terms of the Con-
stitution are charged with the duty of original
ing the bills which grant the money of the
people. We claim the right which the House
Of Commons in England established after tro
centuries Of contest to say that we piH not
grant the money Of the people unless there
Is a redress Of g''ieroaee.'
Senator Beck OF Kentucky, in speech
delivered about this time, outlined the pol
icy of the democrats as follows:
THE two houses would then ask the Presi.
dent TO agree with them 10 repeal the law al
lowing soldiers to go to the polls under pre-.
text OF keeping the peace, and to repeal the
laws relating TO juries, so that persons
brought before the courts may have faiI
trial, and another bill providing that the
tnited States government shall not interfere
with affairs pertaining to the States Wher
the three bills shall have been signed by the
President then Congress will pass every ap.
preparation bill as now, without attempting
any further actor. II The President shonid
eeto The bills thus presented no moaey roukd
be supplied
Representative Hewitt, near the close Of
the session Of the last House, said relative
TO the election and other laws repealed by
the riders on the Appropriation bills:
II is our duty to repeal these. 1t is moi
worth while to attempt the repeal except up
on an appropriation bill. The republican
Senate would not agree to, nor the republican
President sign bill for such repeal What
ever objection~o legislation upon appropria
ton bills may be made in ordinary cases doe,
not apply where free elections and the ibert,
Of the citizens are concerned. We have the
power to vote money-let us annex condition,
to it and iasistupon the redress of grievances y
Columns might be filed with extract,
from democratic speeches during the last