New-York tribune., 1891-02-07
CJIVEP NADNFSS.
lnent.

Senator Stewart may rest assured lndI MS
attempt 10 force the House into unlimited com
ace of silver, by making the pensions OF
7oo 600 veterans and their dependent relatives
t,,n unon tbo acceptance of that radical change
IN the currency. will rec0ll upon him and the
Iisorganizing fanatics who act with him. 1he
nublic will come to realize, before acton on the
matter ends. that the silver party IS completely
reckless and desperate. and as lnGlHcrehJ 10
the honor of the Nation as to the personal hohol
of Scnators who have broken written pledges.
I'm, q similar attempt to carry this same meas
nre bv 4 species of compulSi0n has been made
IN the House by Mr.. Bland His motion was
f. attach the Frce-Coinage bill to the Sundiy
civil Appropriation BILL so that the financial
change which so many members regard as in
,he last degree dangerous to the public vel
fare could not be prevented without denying
to thousands of creditors ard employees OF the
Government the money to which they arc en-
titled. and arrcSting for nine months the opell-
tionS of the Government in many respects On
The very face OF things, this was an attempt 10
coeroc the action OF somebody, and Therefore
A, confession that the silver fanatics are no
longer willing to let unlimited coinage stand
On its own merits or dement's.
Before the silver question can be reached by
;bat process every member OF either party must
first answer for himself the question whether
tho kind OF coerciyc legislation here attempted
+, proper and ought to be permitted or coun-
..nancca. There are certainly not few
democratic members who know, and have re-
pea,cdly declared in debates IN Congress, thai
they would utterly oppose and resent every
such endeavor 10 deprive members oi the nEht
TO vote on each measure presented according
ID il, merits. Unlc,, that broad principle oi
legislative action is maintained there can be
no safety because no personal responsibility 0l
l.oiSlaiors to their constituents. The worst
measures can be Joined with the best, ana the
individual member who j. criticised Tor his No'c
in any case cln always reply tha, ne was G. M
ucued ~ sacrifice a necessary pubic measure
or else to assent t. an amendment which he dis
approved II every member who feels thd'
laUmaking after thi, fashion i, dangerous al
most ccr,a Il to be corrupt and in the last de-
cree calculated to rob members OF their nights
aS The representatives, Of their constituents, VIII
take r.solute stand against 1t in this n'tanc",
the silver men Will be left, rs they ought T."
be- to avail, the vote of the House on the com
age question separately.
What the President is likely to think Of such
legislation can scarcely be doubted in view OF
his public record. There is a strong plohdhiI-
ity that he would regard it aS an improper al
tempt to deprive the Executive also OF h.N free
dom of decision. For il i his nght 10 pass
mon each measure that Congress may send
- him according to itS merits II he can he
compelled to assent 10 one which he thinks
lad lest by his refusal necessary appropriations
should be prevented, the Executive i IN effect
dcplivcd Of = cons itutioral right. On this
ground alone it may be expected that the Prc>i-
dent would meet any such hybrid bill with "a
quick aad emphatic veto requiring the t"o
houses 10 send him their measures separately
or to face the responsibility ol refusing applo-
,ria,ons which the honor of the Government
reouiieS. Senators and Representatives VIII
,cc that they would in that event be placed in
pccu iaily humliatins and di>credtab.e posi-
ton. and il is not Ia be- expected that the sober
and responsible men Of any party VIII cons .hi
10 occupy that position.