The daily gazette., 1879-05-14
From the Phila. Times.
The Second Veto

The veto message of President Hayes, |
returning TO Congress without his ap-
proval the act TO prohibit military inter |
ference at elections, will be profoundly |
regretted by all conservative citizens of |
whatever political faith. Could the Ex-
ecutive have obtained the dispassionate
expression of the Republican merchants,
manufacturers, bankers and business
men of Philadelphia, he would have re-
,ceived an almost unanimous appeal for
the approval OF the bill he has just vetoed
under the inspiration or coercion of dis
turbing partisan leaders and there will
be degree OF unrest in business circles
throughout the country to-day that has
not been felt for months past. The in.
telligent people of all parties well under
stand that the second veto Is purely
partisan production that it was an af-
ter-thought dictated solely by presumed
partisan necessities, and that it wanton-
iy unsettles the harmony of the import
an. departments OF the government to in
woke fresh tlood-tide OF sectional strife.
1t is remembered that the Democrats in
congress accepted the just rebuke OF
The Executive for attempted violent and
coercive legislation, and thereby invited
unity between the Executive and legis.
alive powers; that the Democratic eau
Gus framed the bill now vetoed in faith.
full accord with the suggestions of the
President that the Republican caucu.
divided largely as TO the expediency Oi
opposing the new measures while only
the most revolutionary assailed it on il:
merits and with these vital facts it will
be keenly remembered that the Presi
:, dent publicly avowed his purpose to ap
prove the bill after it had been dscusse,
and passed in the popular branch by
large majority, The bill that was yes
terday vetoed by President Hayes, wa
commended to the confidence of tn
country by the silence of the disarme
leaders by the confessions of party OF
gaas by the practical suggestions of tn
- army bill, and by the avowed approva
of the President himself.
And what excuse is offered for this be
trayal ofthe tranquility of the countr,
III obedience to the arrogant command
of revolutionists ? IF the President ha
not declared his approval of the bill afte
its thorough investigation by the Hous
ii might be assumed that he has honestl
deceived himself into his second veto
but with a manifest purpose of the ma
jOrity of Congress to yield all that tn,
Executive asked on the issue, for the SAX,
OF attaining harmony between the Exec
utive and the legislative authority, thu
President suddenly recoils upon himsel
and presents veto message that is moi a
BILE mainly for its feebleness in all thing,
save Its ACCOMMODATIONS. InOne para.
graph of the veto the country is assured
that "any military interference whatever
at the polls is contrary to the spirit
of our institutions, and would tend &c
destroy the freedom of elections" and in
another paragraph it is stated that certain
1 exceptions "recognize and concede the
SsOundness of the principle that military
4Orce may properly and constitutionally
bB used at the place of elections, when
sch use is necessary to enforce the con-
st1tutiOn and the laws" The fact that
g. the President feels it to be necessary TO
apologize for his assumption of revolu-
Honary power over elections, is manifest
sfUn his voluntary pledge, given in the
veto message, that no soldiers shall be
present AT the polls to perform the duties