The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-13
HIYES'S VETO.

WASHINGTON, May II. -- The Fraudulent
President has had tho courage to veto the bill
" To prevent military Interference at elections"
II matters not who inspired him with this
courage or furnished the law and the language
OF the veto message the holiness Of the act can
not 10 disputed. But the Republican party has
always been an aggressive party. and the men
who lead it, whatever their other faults may be-
do not lack courage.
They applauded and defended tho use OF the
army by Grant TO control elections in tho South
ern States. and they condemned in unIneasured
terms what they appropriately called tho sur
render OF Hayes whom he withdrew the troops
from Louisiana and South Carolina. They have
more influence with Hayes now than they had
thcn They doubtless smile ut his pratinG In
the veto message about his belief in the doctrine
OF the Democrats that any military interfcr-
ence whatever at the polls is contrary TO the
spirit OF our institutions and would tend to do
stroy the freedom OF elections" But so long as
Mr.. Hayes conforms 10 their standard OF politi-
cal action. they do not care how much he apollo
gizes therefor.
The bill which he has vetoed prohibited the
employment Of the troops Of the United States
at any place whore an election was being held
unless it was necessary 10 put down the armed
enemies Of the United States or 10 preserve the
republican form Of government 10 an assailed
State or TO suppress domestic violence which
had routed the police force Of n State These
are tho only purposes for which the military
power Of the United States can according to
the Constitution. be employed within the limits
OF the State. And then the Constitution provides
that these things can only be done as Congress
shall provide.
And yet In his veto message Mr.. Hayes claims
that this bill. il it became law. would seri-
ously impair the efficiency Of the executive de-
partment Of the Government" To prove this
he quotes the act Of Congress OF 1892 which
allowed the President upon the certificate Of
Judges Of the United States Courts that their
processes were pOweress TO call out the militia
Of the State to enforce the judicial DEGREES. But
he neglects TO state that the act OF 1892. even
after it was modified in 179s. was repealed in
1907 and it was provided then that before the
militia or tho army could be employed in
State THE prerequisites OF the law" that is
section 4 Of article Of the Constitution of the
United States must be complied with.
The act Of July 20. 1861. was. as everybody
knows a war measure. Under it the army was
down TO 1865 employed to control elections in
the border States Of Maryland. West Virginia.
Kentucky. and Missouri. Twelve days before
the battle Of Gettysburg the Senate OF the
United States passed a bill forbiddinR tho
use of tho troops at the polls save to
repel armed enemies OF the United States
or to keep tho peace. Tho words to
keep the peace at the polls " were added against
the votes of the Democrats and such Republi-
cans as Fessenden, Henry Wilson. and Ben
Wade. Under the pretence OF keeping the peace
Mt the polls. the army wns employed by Grant
to control elections. and it is TO render this inn
possible in the future rs well as to emphasize
the grand underlying principle OF our govern
ment, that Congress passed the bill to pre-
vent military Interference at elections" viii
the men who have made the issue of free bal
lots fairly and squarcly with the men who are
in favor Of bayonet-Euarded polls have the
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