The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-07-21
Private Pension Bills.

From the Phaadelphid Pa Ledqsr, Jttly 49,
There have been but few Presidents of the United
States who have conspicuously displayed so high
a degree of moral courage in the discharge of the
duties of their high office Mr. Cleveland has done
and in nothing else has he exhibited his elevated
sense of responsibility SO much as in his veoes of
sundry private pension bills This, which should
have been universally recognized as meritorious,
has been by many of his partisan opponents set
down against him offence. His motives are
impugned, his conduct misrepresented. and he is
held up to the contumey' of all those who have
fought their eountry's battles as one who is indif
ferent to their yalor unapprecative OF their seryi-
ces opposed to conceding them the reward which is
justly theirs
There is nothing in the yeoes of the President to
prove these grave charges; there is nothing in them
to give even the color Of credibily TO them. So far
have the Presidents political opponents pursued
their opposition to him in this respect as to contend
that his numerous vetoes of these private pension
bills is fragrant abuse of the constitutional exer-
else of the veto power, and an insult to the egisla
tive department of the Government. That is as
false contention could be made the Constitution
is mandatory to the effect that every BILL passed
by the House and Senate SHALL before 1t becomes
law, be presented to the President of the United
States If he shall approve it, he shall sign it, but If
he shall not approve it. he shall return it to the
House in which it originated, with his objections
and then the bill shall become law only by vote
oftwo-thirds of each House.
The Constitution settles definitely and deesively
enough the unsubstantial charge of the President
exceeding or abusing his power. The known facts
regarding these private pension bills similarly de-
termine the propriety of the Presidents vetoes He
does what neither the Senate nor the House does he
devotes time, labor and thought to the considera-
ton of every separate pension bill presented TO him.
and according to their merits or defects he approves
or disapproyes them.
In marked contrast with what the President has
done IN diligantv earafuIIv inonirinp into the
merits Of , hills rasen.ed IN him for his annrovaI
Is the uneonsdered reckless conduct of the Senate
In passinp them illustrated nv the uncontested
statement of Senator Butler in Yesterdays debate
tlnt m, session that body had
passed I47 private pension bills That statement
make the unsenatorial, undignihed and unmanly
fling Mt the President he was guilty of making but
II did notexeuse nor palliate IL
In one of his veto messages last week the Presi-
den said that the idea of Congress seems tn he THAT
No man who served in the army can be the subject
of death ar Unmarried health. except that they are
cbarreable to his service Medical theories are set
at naught and the most startling relation is claimed
between alleged incidents of military service and
disability or death. Fatal appopexy is admitted as
the result of quite Insignificant wounds, heart dis
ease is attributed to chronic diarrhea, and suicide
is traced to army service I'm wonderfully devious
and circuitous way This course of
special legislation acts very unfairly Those with
certain influence or friends TO push their claims pro-
cure pensions, and those who have neither friends
nor influence must be content with their fate under
general laws"
All this is the TRUTH as case after case has estab
lished it, and yet the hue and cry of inscriptions
partisanship has perverted the good conscience
and devotion to duty of the President as to make
him seem an enemy of the soldiers and his conduct
an offence to them. No one who has read the
Presidents veto messages in which he has stated his
objections to those bills which he has disapproved
fail to perceive that he has, in every case acted
in entire good faith with respectto the claims of our
soldiers, The pension list he said, should be made
roll of honor record Of the great heroic deeds of
brave men, and be not marred by the appearance of
the names upon of those who are unworthy OF the
distinction and benefits il should confer