New-York tribune., 1879-06-02
THE DEMoCRAT1C PROGRAMME.

The Democratic Caucus Committee has
voted to put the party within range OF two
more vetOes. 1t proposes to pass an Army
Appropriation bill with such detailed specif-
cation of the purposes for which money can be
expended 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
connection with elections. 1t proposes to omit
any appropriation for the pay of Deputy
Marsbals. and to contrive clauses which
shall if possible, deprive Supervisors of all
efficiency. Appropriation bills with these
conditions or omissions, it is said, will be
sent to the President on the pretencc 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 miser-
able tickery7 The plain common sense OF
the people will cut straight through all the
cbjcanery that can now be invented. Either
the proposed omissions and restrictions
are III effect a virtual repeal of ex-
isting laws, or they are not. If they
are, a veto will be sustained by every
nerson who sustains the veto of direct and
omen repeal, and by some others who share'the
Anglo-SaxOn contempt for tricky and cow
ardly mode of doing business If they are
not, their employment is frivolous and child
lsb. The President may well reason that
Congress intends to effect something by de-
narting from the usual form of appropriation,
and, to prevent uncertainty as to their
duty on the part of courts and public officers
no upl
amendment as shall either repeal existing laws
or leave them in full and unquesuoned force
Congress can only make itself contemplate
by attempting to do indirectly and by impll-
cation things which it has failed to do openly
and directly.
There are three ways of getting a desired
concession. One is to ask it frankly and man
fully. 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 unwary victim by foul dealing and
marked cards. A third Is the method of the
highwayman, who levels a pistol and cries,
Your money or your lifem No sane man
would begin by attempted coercion, thus put
ting an opponent on his guard, and resort after
wards to plain asking or tricllery. But this
Is exactly the order chosen 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 coercion. Now they are to try
and carry their point by trickery and petit
fogging.
The President has learned that the people
are with him. He has seen that the Republi-
can party is more united than ever III resist
ance to Democratic demands, and that thou
sands of Democrats in every State sus-
tain him. He has seen, too, that he has
the power to obtain unconditional sur
render. The revOlutionists are at his
mercy. If forced to the issue proposed by
themselves, they will be abandoned by all loya
and Conservative Democrats. 1t is safe to say
that President Hayes is not going to throw
away his opportunity; that lie will make no
compromise, nor abate jot of bis rightfu
demands 1t is his duty to insist that Con-
gress shall obey all laws until they are consti-
tutionalIy repealed, and shall provide the
necessary means for the enforcement of ali
laws 0n the statute book. SO long as Con-