The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-05-25
GROVER CLEVELAND THE FIRST.
The Presidents Excessive Use of the
Constitutional Privilege
To Which Washington Resorted
Twice and Lincoln once.
Senator Stewart Speaks In Favor OF
His Proposed Amendment.

WASHINGTON, May 24.-ln the oenaso w
day. Senator Stewart called up the joint
resolution offered by him for constitutional
amendment reducing to simple majority the
vote necessary to override presidential veto
and addressed the Senate on the subject. Mr'
Stewart said: No man ever lived who could
be safely entrusted with the liberties Oh the
people and no people ever surrendered their
liberties to one man without losing them
eventually. The veto power was most
striking illustration of the irresistible desire
in human nature to appropriate the liberties
of the people. 1t was an essential element
of despotism and was Incorporated In the
constitution on the assumption that every
President would exercise it, if at all, with
extreme caution. The whole number OF
presidential yetoes up to the incoming OF the
nre,ent administration was only 1873. In
little over three years Cleveland has vetoed
,75 hills and pocketed 50. Washington, dur
ing eight wears, only vetoed two and Lincoln,
during four years, only one. The people did
not realize the growing power Of the Execu-
tive. The President had more than iO9Ooo
Offices at his disposal and member Oh Oon-
eTess was not even allowed to give evidence
Of the qualifications of an applicant 1or once.
The vast revenues OF the government WIZ
practically used by the administrator as =
private fund to augment t9e p0Msr NO % mat sno
Executive Legislation In Congress, no MAY
ter how secured or by whom deVlscu, peImis-
ted the administration to accumulate iunus
in the Treasury, and such nationai banks as
might be in favor with the EAecu.He, WIN,
out interest or reward to the government. IL
would be interesting to exhibit, 1or tne con-
sideration of the people, the various rulings
and determinations Of the Treasury Depart
ment whereby special privileges, stan'eu groat "
merchant princes, were created In tne great
city of New York and elsewhere az tne ex-
neTse of the people, as an Illustration OF tne
almost unlimited discretionary power excl
cised by the Executive to benent MS IIlenus
and destroy his enemies. He referred 70 tne
litigation of private land claims in Cali1or-
mia. the raid Of the Attorney General on tne
Bell Telephone Company, ana the treaty
making power. -, as;.o.;ol
articles from the Washington PoSt. tne
most devoted friend of the Presldent, as 70
the purposes and designs OF the Chle1 Mag,
istrate and the real reason for his vetoes anu
other executive acts one article dIeW
parallel between Napoleon, the First taxing
the imperial crown in the Cathedral Of Notre
Dame and crowning himself and Grover
Cleveland, the First" also man OIL destiny,
renominating himself in st. Louis on tne
lands absolute ownership of the Democratic
party Before reaching Washington he had
sent word to the Democratic members House
to discard one Of the precious is medals ana DIN IN
all things do the bidding of Wall street. The
refusal of patriotic Democrats to abandon
their constituents and join the golden pond
holding ring challenged the admiration OF
the country. The House mad seemed 70 pe
an mpregnable fortress against any assult
from wall street, but it had fallen, at the
wave of the hand of Grover Cleveland, the
First At the present rate, the growing
powea of this man of destiny had but to con-
tinue unresisted for another term Oh ionr
wears to SO intrench Grover Cleveland In the
White House that nothing but revolution
could remove him. Never before 10 the
hands of one man had such vast powers ana
resources been intrusted by conhding people.
II remained to be seen whether he would be
able to fulfill the expectations Oh the post Dy
Initiating Napoleon and crowning him
self.
with the exercise Of the veto power was
that it no longer attracted attention.
The people were fast becoming educated 10
regard the Executive as the source OF power.
It was absurd to suppose tnat one tltar;ona man N
duties, could more deliberately examine leg,
islation than the majority Of Congress, aided
by its committees, with no other business
but to perfect and pass laws. IL was sq9aaii.y qai.y
absurd to suppose that one man In the Wnite
House absorbed and monopolized al TN, the
honor and integrity OF the nation: ine
first step in the way of reform In leglslatlon
and administration was to restore 10 Con
gress the legislative power to the end that
the peoples REPRESENTATIVES might defend the
rights of their constituents, regardless OF the
frowns or smiles Of an ambitious executive.
He had great respect for Grover Cleveland's
sagacity, ability, and above all his matchless
will power The trouble was he was TOO
strong for the weak restraints imposed upon
him by the constitution and the laws. III
not restrained he would ultimately lead to
monarchy. People admired courage. inde-
pendence, audacity and will, and these quail
tiles were possessed in high degree, by
the money kings and the bondholding aris-
tocracy OF Europe and America as his allies
proved his sagacity and showed his .appreci-
alton of the necessity for the use Of money
snch assertion did not arouse the people to
action before it was too late, It would be
because the boldness of daring of this imam
of destiny" dazzled and blinded them.