The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-13

hedge on were the Nicaragua Canal and the
Worlds Fair.
The boldest thing in the letter was refer
ence to his record in the past as a guaranty
of what he would do if reelected. These
are his words:
Though much is lef. unwritten, my record as
public servant leaves no excuse for misunders.and-
ing my belief or position.
This makes it exceedingly important to
examine his record as public servant"
Mr.. Clevelands predecessors in the Presi-
Dental Office had used the veto power with
great caution and reserve The wisdom of
granting this power to the Chief Executive
has always been seriously doubted by the
great thinkers on popular Government.
The sovereigns of Great Britain have not
exercised it since 1692-just 200 years ago
and all writers agree that any attempt to
use it would result in revolution. The
Fathers of our Government were very re-
luctant to make use of this method Of thwart-
ing the wishes of the direct representatives of
the people. Washington vetoed but two bills
one which was the result of State jealousy,
and the other lie thought would unwisely
cripple the army. John Adams and Thomas
jefferson did not veto a bill in the - years
they administered the Government. James
Madison vetoed six in his two terms on
what he Considered constitutional grounds.
James Monroe in his eight years vetoed one
bill, because it conflicted with his views
of the Constitution, and John Quincy
Adams did not interpose his veto once.
Andrew Jackson, n bitter partisan, used
the veto unsparingly to defeat his po-
litical opponents, and disapproved nine
bills. john Tyler, after his desertion from
the Wings, used the veto against those
whom he had abandoned, as Andrew john
son did, and disapproved nine bills. Van
Buren, vetoed none, Polk vetoed three Tay-
lor and Fillmore vetoed none Pierce We
toed nine; Buchanan four; Lincoln, one;
Andrew johnson, 90; Grant, II; Hayes,
II; Garfield, none; Arthur four. This
makes the total number of vetoes by the %
Presidents in the sc years prior to Mr..
Cleveland's accession, 100; the greater part
of which were the results of struggles be-
tween the Presidents and Congresses polti-
cally hostile 10 them. During Mr. Cleve-
lands term the Senate was politically adj
verse to him, but the House contained
strong majority of his political friends.
During his four years he disapproved of
697 bills, of which 524 were private pension
bills, passed after the most mature consid-
Grafton by Committees Of both the Senate
and the House, and then by the Senate and
House themselves, TO remedy what Mr..
Cleveland himself freely admitted were
gross imperfections in the general pension
laws. In his last annual message he said:
The fact that 1oe different rates of pensions arc
paid cannot in my opinion. be made consistent
with justice 10 the pensioners 10 the Govern
ment; and the numerous private pension bills that
passed. predicated upon the imperfection of
general laws. while they increase In many
existing inequality and Injustice lend additional
force TO the recommendation for q revision Of the
general laws on this subject.
Yet in spite of this hypocritical cant about
the imperfections and injustices of the pen
sion laws, he had the effrontery to veto the
Dependent Pension Bill, a measure which
had been under consideration for eight years
to remedy these very imperfections and in
justices, and which we have the united testi-
mony of the nine Democratic and six Re-
publican Congressman, constituting the
House Committee On Invalid Pensions, was
in hearty accord with these views of the
President, and largely in accordance Nth his
suggestions they framed bill which they
then thought, and still continue to think,
will best accomplish the ends proposed"
This bill, which had passed tho Senate
without g division-many noted ex-rebels
voting for 1t in its previous stages-and
which had passed the House by the usual
vote of $50 yeas to &c nays (68 Democrats
voting with the majority was vetoed Feb
IL, 1887. Modified and extended as the
Disability Bill. il was passed and approved
June q, 1890. Since then about 100000
comrades and their dependent ones have
taken advantage of the bill, or have their
claims in shape TO do so.
Cleyeland's cruel act delayed this measure
Of justice three years and four months. That
is, he Indignantly defrauded this half-million
claimants of their rights and robbed every
one of their well-earned pensions for three
years and four months. This can never be
made good TO them. 1t is gone as completely
ss if it had been swallowed up in the ocean.
| The tens Of thousands who died in those
three years and four months were forever
robbed of any portion of the Nations just
ice. The average of the pensions allowed
under the Disability Bill is about 500 o
year This would make tho actual money
loss to the pensioners who are now living,