, 1879-07-05
Democratic Landmarks.

In the senate of the United States re-
Gently two leading democrats declared
their opinions on the present political
situation Mr.. Hampton said !: By no
vota Of mine viii the appropriations ne.
cessary for the efficient maintenance Ut
the army be refused. 1t is compet mt for
congress to declare under what limitations
and upon whar conditions these appropri-
ations shall be made The form IN which
this is done l regard as immateriai In
my judgment it would have been best to
adhere to the general sorm but as 1t his
been deemed advisable to make the ne
cessary appropriations in another mar
ner, l shall, in order to secure unanim:t:,
aoauiesce in the decision of the majority.
But in no even. can consent to aid IN
disbanding the army or impairing its efti-
cheney. 1t is the army If the south as
well as of the north. 1t Is the army OF
the whole country. In its history from
the day Of the revolution through its
achievements of 1912 and the glories of
the Mexican war, have some reason, by
right of my birth and blood, to be proud
In the late civil contest, on many bloody
field, l t-sted its valor, and no word or
act of mine shall depreciate its valor or
lessen its value. But because so re-
gard it no act of mine shall tend to de-
grade it from is high rank. / will not
legislate that against its own honorable
instincts and traditions, 1t shall he an
instrument of tyranny IN the hands OF
any factious party or an executive who
may be SD unscrupulous as to desire to
! use it. Nor shall l assent because of any
differences of opinions between the min-
ority and the majority to close the courts
of justice or embarrass the necessary and
orderly life of the government. The con-
stitution has provided q means by which
! an appeal to the country can be determin-
ed, and it is for the people to decide
whether the presidential veto has been
wisely used to defeat the will of congress,
which represents the majority of the peo-
pie.
Senator Bayard said 1.-THE vetoed
bills represent the sober second thought
of the American people in whose deliber-
ate judgment the reforms contained in
them should be made and the people
would Judge the President and his party
by their works. Mr. Bayard remarked
that the same people who elected demo
cratic majority also elected democratic
President This Was the opinion Of every
democrat, and they rested their hops in
their belief that truth and Justice ere
omnipotent and must prevail Upon that
great issue the American reople will be
called to decide at a future election, but
these facts only render the situation more
difficult and trying for the majority. They
are trying to execute their duty and shape
! legislation So ihai this country shall be
| free and prosperous, SO that the Union
shall be restored, public credit maintain
ed and all the functions Of the govern
ment cared for Their responsibility is
their sense OF duty, and their proposition,
is hat every branch oi the government
be sustained. Our first duty, said Mr..
Bayard, is to supply everything needfdl
for such sustenance. But our policy is
not to be taught us by a harassing, OBJ
structive executive. Our measure of pa
triotic dn.y is not to be dictated by him,
but by the oath We took TO suppors the
government Democratic Watchman.