Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-01
The Army Bill Veto.
: SATISFACTION on THE One SIpE-CoNFrsIoS
ON THE OTHER.


ON THE OTHER.
From Special to Boston Advertiser
WAsHINGroN. ID. C.. April 29.-Thcrc Is
but one opinion among republicans in regard
| to the Presidents message. II is commented
as warmly bv those in the party who have
heretofore opposed him as by his recognized
friends. 1t is praised for its clcarness and
strength, and for its uncompromisng defence
of the powers of the national government and
those of the Executive. The party in Con-
gress has been solidly united from the first ON
the pending issues, but the efforts made in
certain quarters, and participated in both
by republicans and democrats, to cast doubt
on the Presidents position has had con-
siderable effect, and good many republic
cans continued to the last moment To fear
the President would fail them, and either sign
the bill or suggest such notifications
as would afford the democrats means of get
ting out of their scrapc without surrendcring
or backing out. The intimate friends of the
President have known from the first that the
expression of these doubts did gross injustice
to the President, and that from the moment
the character of the legislation which the
democrats had decided to attach to the ap-
preparation bills became known. his own po-
sition was taken and maintained throughout ;
and il is but Just to the President to repeat
what has been heretofore asserted that in the
opening of the debate on the army bill the
President was even more decided as to the
last course which the republicans should pur-
sue than some who have since been widely
praised by the party press for their clear and
pronounced views.
Tonight the republicans are of one mind,
and on pending questions there is no division
into administration and ani-administration
men. Republicans feel themselves to be
masters of the situation, and they
have only to stand and see the discomfi-
turc Of the democrats. The general opinion
among republicans is that sooner or later the
democrats must Yield, and that the longer
they delay the greater the party damage
which they must receive will prove to be.
As for the democrats. they are VARYING the
story of the king of France by some lively
marches around on top of the hill before they
start down again. Some of them even As
late as Yesterday seemed to believe that the
bill would be signed. Those of them who
expected veto seemed to feel confident that
il would contain such suggestions of a moCi-
fed bill as would afford a loop-holc of c>cal Z
fran their unpleasant position. With hope
of securing thi, advantage prominent demo-
cratic senators have been intimating for sew
strue the sixth section of the army bill Is in
tcrfcring with the civil officers in the dis
charge of their duties, they would amend it
but they are much disappointed to find that
this is not the Presidents only objection.
In fact. they see no avenue of escape eX-
ccpt by the way they came. which involves
for them disastrous retreat. Evidences of de-
moralization are abundant among them, in
spite of the numerous declarations during the
debate that in case the President refused to
sign the bill their course was unalterably de-
termincd. which was simply to refuse sup
plies and adjourn. Very few democrats can
be found who are willing to predict what their
party will do. 4 small number say in gcncr-
al terms that they will never surrender, but
they all talk like men who feel themselvc, to
be in very unpromising and annoying posi-
ton. There is good deal of hard talk
against those who first committed the party to
its present course, which is not of the kind to
promote harmony. A good many seem to
have just walked up to the difference between
carrying measure by small majority in
each house, and carrying it when the Prcsi-
dent stands firmly with a minority.