The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-06-06
THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMME

1AS s3WOSNA ~ ENO0kNAM Va =.
The Democratic Caucus Committee
has voted to put the party within range
of two more vetoes. It proposes to pass
an Army Appropriation bill with such
detailed specification of the purposes for
which money can beexpended as to leave
the President no power to use the army
for the support Of any civil officers or the
suppression of any violence in connec-
ton with elections. 1t proposes to omit
any appropriation for the pay of Deputy
Marshals, and to contrive clauses which
shall. if possible, deprive Supervisors of
all efficiency. heappropriation bill with
these conditions or omissions, it is said,
will be sent to the President on the pre-
tence that the Executive has no right to
veto bill merely because it does not
contain all that he would like, or does
contain unpalatable restrictions as to the
use of the public funds.
Is there no Democratic leader who can
realize that the country is sick of this
miserable trickery7 The plain common
sense of the people will cut straight
through all the chicanery that can now
he invented. Either the proposed omis-
sions and restrictions are in effect vir-
tual repeal of existing laws, or they are
not. If they are, a veto will be sustain
ed by every person who sustains the veto
of direct and open repeal, and by some
others who share the Anglo-Saxon con-
tempt for n tricky and cowardly mode Of
doing business. If they are not, their
employment is frivolous and childish.
The President may we'll reason that
Congress intends to effect something by
departing from the usual form of appro-
priation, and, to prevent uncertainty as
to their duty on the part of court and
public officers, may properly send the
bills back for such amendment as shall
either repeal existing laws or leave them
in full and unquestionod force. Con-
gress can only make itself contemplate
by attempting to do indirectly and by
implication things which it has failed to
do openly and directly.
There are three ways of getting de-
sired concession. One is to ask 1t frank
ly and maniuliy, with full recognition
that the right to refuse is As clear as the
right to ask Another is the method OF
the swindler, who tries to trap an un-
weary victim by foul dealing and marked
cards. A third is the method of the
highwayuian, who levels II pistol and
cries, Your money or your life" No
sane man would begin by ATTEMPTED coer.
ciOn. thus putting AL opponent on his
guard, and resort afterwards to plain
asking or trckery. But this is exactly
the order choseL by the Democrats.
First, they Tried to coerce the President;
the passage of appropriation bills with
partisan riders was threat to starve the
Government if it did not yield. Then
they asked the same thing without coer
cion. Nuw they are to try and carry
their point by trickery and pettifogging
The President has learned thar the
people are with him. He has seen tn II
the Republican party is more united
than ever in resistance to Democratic
demands, and that thousands Of DEM
Gratis in every State sustain him. He
has seen, too, that he has the power 10
obtain unconditional surrender. The
revolu,ionists are at his mercy. If
forced to the issue proposed by them
selves, they will be abandoned by all
loyal and conservative Democrats. 1t is
safe to say that President Hayes is not
going to throw away his opportunity
that he will make no compromise, nor
abate j,t Of his rightful demands. 1t
is his duty to insist that Congress shall
obey al! laws until they are constitu
tionally repealed, and shall provide the
necessary means for the enforcement OF
all laws on the statute book. So long As
Congress refuses, it is his part to send
back its bills for correction. An attempt
To repeal law by indirectiOn, to leave
the President without power to enforce
a law because he has exercised his Con-
stitutiOnal right to object to it's repeal,
will not deceive him. Sooner or later,
Congress will be obliged to pass proper
bills. for the support of all
of the Government and the
of all its laws. Until Con
gress does this, it may expect a new
veto at every step, and a swelling chorus
of popular approval for the President
and condemnation for the Democratic |
revolutinnists after each veto. That
sort of thing the President and the Re
publicans cah stand if the Democrats
can.