Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-13
RADICAL DESPERATION.

The issue has been squarely made
and squarely met. The Democratic
marty has presented the naked ques-
ton as 10 the supremacy OF the
civil over the military power
and the freedom of elections from
bayonet interference. The Republican
party has placed itself Enthusiastically
upon the record as upholding the one
and denying the other, and with weak
executive to do its bidding has temper
arily thwarted the will of the people ex-
pressed through their Representatives
and desperately adhered to their deter
mination to keep the ballot under the
supervision of the bayonet.
In Republican government, where
such a question comes directly before
the people we can anticipate but one
verdict. II in the mOnarchleal gov
eminent of England the reverence Tor
a free ballot runs so high that no soldier
is allowed within two miles OF voting
place, We mistake the spirit OF a people
born and reared under a republican
government if they do not, in defence
of their liberty at the polls, rise up as
one man and tear this blOtch from the
statute books, as we'll as cOnsign to per-
petual iniamy the usurpation that
would attempt TO maintain it.
1t is folly to attempt to bolster up the
Democratic position by further argu-
ment. The real issue is no Longer OBJ
scured from the people. Nor isit worth
the while to point out the subtertuges
bv which the executive has endeavored
to make his position consistent IN his
attempts to carry out the behests
of his party. No one who is reader
of the daily news has overlooked the
fact that in a message, only few days
ago, he asserted, in order to justify a
veto of this same measure, that under
existing laws there can be no military
interference with elections. No case of
such interference has, in fact, occurred
since the passage Of the act last referred
TO: no officer of the United States has
appeared under orders ut any place OF
election in any State, and no complaint
even of the presence of United States
troops has been made in any quarter.
II NAV therefore be confidently stated
that there is no necessity for the enact
ment of section six of the bill before me
to prevent military interference at cleo
tons. The laws already in force are all
that is required for that end"
Now i'm the message We print this
morning, vetOing a measure stripped OF
every other feature except that OF pro-
hibiting military interference at cleo
tons. he swallows the above assertions
and boldly avOws as a reason for the
veto that "there should be no denial OF
the right Of the National Government to
employ its military force on any day and
| at ANY pldNtf III NttNN sum NiH f''' -
is necessary to enforce the Constitution
and laws of the United States. "
But the incongruity and inconsistency
of veto messages are minor cOnsidera-
tons. The matter at issue lies deeper
than this. We do not doubt the final
result, and the Democratic party could
not desire a better issue with which to
20 before the people, The only matter
OF immediate concern is whether it will
be possible, with the military power
under the control OF the present EXecu-
tive, Tor the people to have the priyi-
lege of expressing themselves at the next
Presidential election and Kidding the
government Of the usurpatiOn which
now riots at the National Capital.
The one assurance remaining is that
the purse strings are in the hands Of the
friends of civil government, and wheth-
er they will regard it polite to aPproprl-
ate public funds under existing circum-
stances is a question TO be considered.