New-York tribune., 1879-04-14


But when the present Congress convened, all the
obstacles to direct action on the measure had been
removed. The Committee on the Judiciary might
have been appointed Immediately after the election
of the Speaker. That committee might have re-
ported the bill at once and the Democrats, having
"A clear majority of the House, might have passed IT
under the operation of the previous question In TWO
days. In the Senate too. all obstacles had been re-
moved with the disappearance of the Republican
majority.
There was therefore no good reason why the De-
mocracy should have rcsorted TO what everybody
admits is vicious expedent for the passage of thr
particularmeasure. OF the two methods of accom-
plishiug their purpose speedy and cficert as
the other. the Democracy deliberately chose to
select the more Objectionable. But if the passage
of this measure through Congress was not to be
facilitated by making ii rider to an appropriation
bill, such course could only be defended on the
theory that the President would veto the bill if 1t
should be sent to him as an Independent PROPOSE
tOn, while he might be induced to sign 1t rather
than defeat one of the annual supply bills
The revolutionary character of an attempt to force
the President to sign bill which he Is believed in
advance to disapprove of, by threatening to with
hol the funds necessary for the transaction Of the
business Of the Government, has been forcibly
shown by the Republicans during the de-
bate in the House, and my only pur-
pose at present IS to show that this step also was
wholly unnecessary, and that the Democrats by
taking it made the passage of their bill TO prevent
the of troops at the polls difficult and un
certain.
1t is to be assumed that the sixth Sec
ton of the Army Appropriation bill is
simply designed to keep United States soldiers
away from the polls on election day. Mr.. Abram S.
yln offp as IN IN n he last
Congress. undoubtedly intended that, and that
alone to be its effect II, as many believe, the bill
il has passed goes further, and fOrbds civil
officers to use armed men for the preservation of
the peace at the polls that does not appear upon its
face, nor has il been admitted by any one who
voted for the bill. But there was no reason when
Congress met in extra session TO anticipate stub
born controversy with the President over the ques-
tion whether he should retain the right not 10
order troops the polls to preserve the peace when
Representatives in Congress to be elected. 1t is
power that he has never exercised, and which it s
believed he does not consider of vital importance for
the Executive to retain. Indeed during the short
recess of Congress it was publicly announced that
the President would sign bills repeating the test
oath for jurors and preventing the use of troops
at the polls; aud this was generally understood
TO be Mr.. Hayess position at the time when the
Democratic caucus was held
The party which controls both branches Of Con-
gress had 1t in its power, therefore, by pursuing
ordinary methods and without resorting to any
questionable eXpedients, to take away from the
President the right TO send soldiers TO the polls
election day. This might have been done without
anv controversy with the Executive and without
STIRRING up those bitter memories which the Demo-
Gratis arc anxious 10 bury forever. The Demo-
cratic leaders not content to the passage
of this measure in an orderly and dignifed manner.
Like Paddy at the fair they were spelling for
fight and as the sequel has shown. they would
rather have had all their political legislation de-
feated than have missed the opportunity which
their return 10 power In both branches of CrrpTess
gives them to bully and threaten the President,
keep the country in turmoil for three OF four
months and make fools of themselves generally.
They made the extra session of Congress necessary
not because majority Of the party thought il of
such transcendent Importance that the legislation
now in controversy should be passed immediately,
but because there was patronage to secure IN the
Senate and because the iire-eating minority dreaded
the obscurity Of their districts during the long
Spring, Summer and Autumn They demanded
that the obnoxious legislation should be put upon
Appropriation bills, not because II any easier TO
enact il in that way, but in order that they might
have " row " IN Congress- make the Republicans
realize that they were In a minority and undertake
10 bulldoze the President aud in this way let tho
country know that they tho BOurbonS have really
got control OF the legislative branch Of the Govern
ment
lhe country might excuse tho Democracy for re-
sorting to questionable eXpedients If success Law in
that direction and defeat in another; hut what
Will it do with party that from sheer pcrversitv
and for the sake of a controversy adopts methods
that have been universally condemncd2
have sald that the President would have signed
bill forbdding the use Of troops at the polls while
the Republicans now feel assured that he Will veto
the Army Appropriation bill If it is sent TO him con-
tanning the Objectionable sixth section IL must not
be supposed from this that Mr. Hayes has changed
his mind during the past month IN regard to the K
pedIency Of this legislation, that if he returns
the Army bill 10 the House with his objections he
Will defend his veto the sole ground that egisla-
tion of the character proposed ought not to be at
tached to appropriation bills. Tho sixth section Of
the Army bill proposes something more than and
different from a simple prohibition of the presence
of troops at the polls election day. If II becomes
law civil officers of the United States will be for
bddcn TO have armed men at the polls for any pur-
pose whatever and II is doubtful if deputy marshals
would be permitted to do any act for the enforce
ment of the laEs against intimidation, bribery,
etc, which the Democrats have not yet in terms
proposed TO repeal. While, therefore. the President
might have been willing to agree that no soldiers
shall be near any place where voting is going on, he
is not willing that all the machinery for the en-
fOrcement Of laws, to the repeal Of which lie never
will consent, shall be broken down by striking out
Of tho law those eIght monOsyllabic words 'or to
keep the peace AT tHc polls" L. L. W.