Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-14

The policy of attempting to force iegisla-
ton out of the opposition by withholding the
legitimate government appropriations, Is
utterly indefensible. Mr.. Bayard termed
such course, when it was proposed, "revolu-
tionary," and since has said, :" if this Ee a
good precedent, the minority, hereafter. have
no rights At best, it is unnecessary, at
this time, for there Is no election, except one
in California with which it could make no
difference, before the next regular session OF
Congress. The Boston Journal well says:
The action thus outlined, which the Demo-
cratic leaders openly ayow as constituting
their programme, comes as near beng reroIH
lion as anything short Of direct riolence
can be. IL Is equivalent, as Senator Con-
king expressed it, to taking the Government
BY the throat and refusing to allow it to
breathe until the desired point is gained. 1t
is an invasion of the Executive prerogatiye
which violates the spirit if not the letter OF
the Constitution. The Constitution gives to
two-thirds of both Houses of Congress the
power to override the Presidents veto. The
Democratic programme insists on this power
for very small majority of the two Houses,
and claims it by virtue OF mcnaces and
threats. If the precedent which the Demo-
cratic revolutionists seek to establish is con-
ceded, the Presidential power OF veto is viz
tually taken away, and it becomes pos
sible hereafter for small majority
in Congress to enact any measures
whateyer, without the Executive check
upon ill-considered legislation which the
Constitution provides.
Upon the issue which the Democrats thus
present there Is only one policy for the Re-
publican members of Congress and President
to pursue. There can be no concession on
the Republican side. The attempts to re-
peal the Supervisors law is a blow at the
purity Of the ballot box, and, If successful,
would remove the last safeguard for free and
legal elections. The repeal of the law
would hand New York city over to the
hands of thieves and repeaters, and would
make the State pcrpetually Democratic by
rolling up an illegal vote in the city which
could not be cOunterbalanced. 1t would
make the solid South more solid than ever
by leaving Republican voters without any
protection. The attempt to enact a measure
for the encouragement Of bull-dozing and
ballot box stutiDg is bad enough. but to
threaten to block the operations Of Govern
ment unless this is done is a menace not to
be yielded to.
The Democrats are reckoning without
their host if they expect to carry such a
desperate scheme by such desperate
expedients. Their majority in the next
House will be very small and prccarious.
The illness or absence of a few mem
bers, or independent action on the part Of
two or three Northern members with cour-
age enough TO resist caucus dictation, would
destroy the whole plot. The Republicans
must preserve united front and must have
all the members present and voting. Presi-
dent Hayes may be counted upon to veto
such bills as fast as they are sent to him
and under this course of treatment the reyO-
lationary scheme of the Democrats will be
pretty sure to fail. But if the worst comes,
and the Democrats insist on their course, the
President mas only to stand firm. The
power OF yetoing improper legislation IS vest
ed in him by the Constitution, and he would
be false to his duty if he failed to exercise
the power with determination, in this in
stance. The power Of voting appropriations
for Government expenditures Is vested in
Congress if Congress fails to do its duty,
the country will deal with it in way to
make an example for future Congresses.