Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-30


The Republicans seem to hsve been struck
with judicial blindness. Their contemplate
or perhaps il was intended TO be conte4ptn-
ous) declaration in the Chicago Convention
on the subject Of temperance and morality
cannot but damage their party in the opinion
o. 200 earnest prohibitioni'ts. SO also their
willingness % throw down the gage OF battle
snd dare The Democrats 10 defend The Presi-
dent, exercise Of the veto power in the PEN
SION cases. indicates that Judgment has
nsd III not 10 " british beats" at any rate
from them.
Genera. JACEsoN's firm maintenance OF the
rights % TIE Executive was one OF the
causes 81 his universal popularity. He
welded the veto as an lrisbman does bis
Fmielih or, rather. that was the popular
notion. though be exercised that power by
no means with undue frequency. But, rs
We have said, the people looked upon him as
"a man VINO stood ready always TO "club" a
hin That he did not like, and they applauded
him Tor Il. His "By the Eternal" fore
snldoNed a veto, or al any rate that he
meant 10 have hi, way IN whatever matter
,yas under consideration when he employed
that phrase.
The people will in like manner stand by
Mr.. CLEVELAND whenever he finds cause to
veto bill which ,hl+i-haye been passed by
Congress. II has been clearly manifested in
the history Of mi, country that there is no
danger to be approhended from Executive
u.urpaton. The Legislative, not the
Executive, department is the one that
threatens me welfare OF the country aud
tho pcrp,tuity OF our free institutions. An
DREW JouSsoS escaped by the skin OF bis
teeth conviction ~ am offence for which he
lai been uujusty impeached. The senate
csme within am ace II placing one OF itsown
members in tine Executive chair, and by
Of. own vote! A change 81 one vote
m dny.four would have removed Mr..
Johnson and made that Old reprobate
ErN WADE President Of the Unitcd states,
and. rs we have SAID, By His own vote; for
hr actually voted 10 convict Mr.. JOHNSON,
though one more senator had voted with him
hr would have succeeded 10 the Office which
IN, own vote would thus have vacated. We
,uppose that it = not saying too much 70
etr that # ANDREW JOHNSON had then and
iiu. been removed from Office, that would
have been ne end Of the republic.
The Wing p,rty once tried TO rally The
N9f,Is of This country against The veto power.
5lr. TYiER's vctocs were the cause OF that
ATTEMPT. The Wings put into their platform
az 1874 an anii-ycto plank. But as in the
c,,e of General JACKsoN's yetoes, so in the
case Of Mr.. TYltR's, the people refused to
condemn.
Mr.. DAyIs's report 10 the Senate, chrOnl-
cled IN our Washington kilograms Of yester-
day. takes new aud dangerous grounds. lie
goes 50 far a, TO deny In Effect that the PTesl-
dent has the rl,ht to veto such bills as the
Icnsion bills upon which his report was
based We. cannot believe that even Re
publican senate will dare to go before the
country on that issue every bill"
that ra,sc. the two houses OF Congress
must be sent 10 the President for his sp-
proval or disapproysl. But II Mr.. DAVIS i
right, the President has in many cases no
right 10 diSapproye. lie must approve 10
state such a proposition u to condemn 1t.
TIE veto power was intrusted to the Presi-
dent to be used in his discretion. The ele-
plants trunk can pull down tree or pick
up pin. The veto power can Kill
a one-hundred>dollar pension bill or ;wen-
u-milions-oi-dollsrs riyer-and-harbor bill.
No bIll is too high to be reached by 1t. No
hin i, so small as TO be beneath its notice or
il, operation. The President represents the
whole people in peculiar sense; and they
recognize him as their representative in Of
fee. They will never consent that he shall
Dee deprived OF the power TO stand between
them aud harm.