The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-05-12

the President objects, and on account OF
which he assumes the responsibility of
practically defeating the bill, was In princi !
pie moderate one 1t was based upon the
suggestion of the leader of the opposition
in the House of Representatives. 1t in
volved the concession Of the constitution
slity of the election laws, and was pro
fessedly an attempt 20 guard their opera
ton from tendencies which Republicans
admitted to be dangerous 1t is true that
the rider" may have had a real purpose
different from its professed one; that Its
actual effect might have been TO nullify the
laws which ii pretended to amend and i'm
prove; that, in any case, 1t was intended
to entTap the Republicans into q seem
ing opposition to the amendment
of the election laws, and 50 may
have been political trick. But IL is
difficult to see how the circumstances OF It's
passsge make II such an attempt to coerce
the President as required an immediate. un-
conditional and irrevocable resistance on his
part. The President not only might, but,
in all reason, he ought, to have considered
the remote, as well as the direct, conse-
quences OF his action. He has probably de-
faated an early adjournment Of Congress
He has given occasion to the renewal of psr
tisan passions over the form rather than the
substance of the issues of the extra session.
He has challenged the majority, in a spirit
WHICH bHcy are uOb 10 OF lOT-
give, not only to maintain their position in
regard to this particular measure. but to
take like stand on the main appropriation
for Marshals' fees the coming year. Should
this challenge be accepted, the country will
be plagued with long, violent, irritating
and probably fruitless political quarrel,
from which no sound principle will emerge
strengthened, and which may easily give
rise 10 most unfortunate complications.
Whfla tharofOro MI aOnQodo tho
rectness of the principle by which Mr.. Hayes
processes to be guided, the wisdom of mis-
course is far from clear. The element OF
timiliness in an act 80 decisive and so preg-
nant with grave consequences can not be
left out OF view. The political situation is
at best sufficiently strained and threatening
It was hardly worth while to make il worse,
as the veto can not but make it 1t was
probably in Mr.. Hayes power, by temperate
and reasonable explanation of his objections
| to the legislation contained in the rider, 10
| have secured its modification in such man
ner as to have left the election laws at once
operative and acceptable 10 all parties.
This would have been no small gain. II
would have secured what the Republican
party, with great irmness and earnestness.
| has long sought. 1t would have provided
| q substantial guarantee for pure and free
| elections this fall. 1t would have removed
a potent cause of partisan bitterness
/ and excitement from the approaching
canvass. 1t would have greatly lessened the
| dangers which may attend the determination
of the results of the Presidential elections.
| II he had failed in bringing the majority in
| Congress to his views or in securing some
basis of agreement, he would have offered
such terms as would have been refused only
with great offense to public opinion. He
would have placed himself and his party
right before the people, and have enlisted
on their side public sentiment which would
have gone far to settle the issue Of the Ma
tlonal campaign. Instead of this, he has
i raised an issue which is, to say the least, a
remote and over-refined one. He has thrown
away en- opportunity to accomplish signal
| good for a shadowy chance to bring about q
reform that the people care little for, and
that il, in reality, one of inferior moment
1t is not to be expected that riders" will be
| much less frequent on account of the veto
The msjority will hardly be compelled Of
induced to abandon them, while the grea
| object of the effective administration of the
laws for the protection of the suffrage hal
been neglected, abandoned and rendered
difficult of attainment, If not unattsinable.