The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-05-17
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.

tHSN holJS W ouSSCOo'
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.
1t will be seen that the President
has vetoed the bill just passed by
Congress entitled Gan act TO Prohibit
Military Interference at Elections"
1t is enough to startle the country
that simple measure, framed in ac-
cord with the Presidents declared
policy and in exact accord with his
recent veto message on the army bill,
is vetoed solely because revolutionary
partisans have become masters of the
Republican organization.
When President Hayes assumed to
define the policy and duty of his par
ty he made the freedom Of elections
from Military interference one of the
cardinal articles of party faith, and
his veto of the army bill clearly die
tated the precise measure that is now
returned with veto. The principle
Involved in the bill has been distinct
ly affirmed by nearly every Republi
can leader in both branches of Con
gress and its veto was not thought
of until the feebleness of the Presi-
dent was so tested by the revolution
lists of his party as to prove that they
could safely command him to be un
faithful to himself and unfaithful to
the country.
When he vetoed the army bill he
had show of sentiment of the coun-
try in his favor, because of the objec-
tionable method of attaining politi-
cal legislation by amendments to nee
essary appropriation bills, but when
the single proposition to forbid the
use of Federal troops at elections
was presented to the President,
he has shown himself false to his du-
ty as defined by himself.
The time is past when any party
can go to the country on an issue of
Military interference with elections
The devotion of the people of all par
ties to the freedom of the ballot will
make this new Republican policy of
bayonet elections a crushing mill
stone about the neck of the party.
1t will make the next Presidential
contest a bitter sectional struggle
and revolutionary demagogues will
rule in the tempest, while all the in
terests of trade, industry and peace
must be sacrificed to mad ambition.
In the natural course of events,
the present Republican domination
cannot long be maintained. With
the House lost in three consecutive
contests, with the Senate lost, and
with popular majority of a quarter
of million against the Republicans
in the last Presidential struggle, il
requires no prophetic | powers t.
point the inevitable and early success
of some form of opposition to the de
moralized Republicanism of to-day
and when that victory shall be achiev
ed, as soon it must be achieved dies
pite bayonets, visiting statesmen an,
Returning Boards, who shall ther
complain il the new victors summon
the bayonet to perpetuate Republican
defeat? If the positions of parties
we're reversed, and the Democrats hao
the Executive and military power o
the government, the Republican lea
ders who are calling for bayonet cleo
tions. would resist such authority il
Democratic hands to the uttermost-
even to civil revolution.
1t is with sincere regret that we ar
forced to the conclusion, that Presi
dent Hayes has stultifed himself b,
casting his lot with the Revolution
lists, who are determined by hook o
by crook to hold on to power )and
by his veto of this we'll merited meas
urc, inaugurated policy that j
fraught with innumerable evils t
law and peace and tranquility.