Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1892-01-23

SenatoT sherman alter ne nau nnisheu
the little job Of wiping the earth with
Fire Alarm Foraker at Columbus the
other day, started on his journey to
Washington, stopping over at Pistsburg
long enough to be interviewed on the
National topics by 3 press reporter.
Concerning the Presidential ques-
ltion, ne said that Secretary Blaine could
have the nomination il he wanted it, but
he did not think his health would per
NIT his acceptance. A candidate should
be physically able to fill the requirements
of the Office. With Blaine out OF the
way he thought Harrison would be the
nominee. Senator Carlisle was the
proper man for the Democratic nomina'
tion, as he more clearly represented the
Democratic principles. Palmer was a
good man, but too old. Regarding ma
tional legislation, he said a free silvel
, bill would pass both Houses, but would
be vetoed by the President. A tariff
bill would pass the House but would b'
defeated in the Senate"
We have no doubt that the Senator
has rightly diagnosed the case with re-
ference to silver. President Harrison
cannot 20 back on the declaration con-
, tanned in his annual message to Congress.
/. He left no way Of escape should q free
coinage bill come to him for his appro'
val. He must veto it to retain
the respect of anybody, and we are
rather OF the opinion that he courts such
an opportunity. He is q little man with
a common place administration and
would no doubt be glad to do some one
heroic thing to lift himself and il out Of
the mire. Possibly he would like to gain a
reputation for great firmness. The veto
Of the free coinage bill would make the
silver question o red hot issue in the com
ing Presidential race, and we would be
glad to see it come before the country in
just that shape. There could be no
lodging nor obscuring the demands of
silver in that case. All hands would
have to take sides either for or against.
President Harrison would, OF course, be
much talked about and have ardent sup
porters among the goldbugs. He probably
remembers that old Hickory Jackson once
vetoed a National Bank bill and thereby |
made himself President for a second
term. But that was quite q different
sase. II was a case of an attempt in a
time Of profound peace to give to a syn
dictate Of gentlemen the power to furnish
a national paper currency in the face Of
the constitution of the United States, |
which in terms authorizes the issuance Of
nothing except metallic money. We get
our present g~reenbacks and National
bank notes under the general war power
that the Government had a right to do
almost anything to perpetuate its own
existence. There was a direct constitu-
tional objection in the case Of President
Jackson. But there can be no such OBJ
lection to a free coinage silver bill. On
the contrary the constitution in plain
words provides for the coinage Of silver
without limit. If President Harrison exer.
cises the veto power he must do so ex-
clusively on the ground Of public policy
or public expediency. And that is a
dangerous ground for any one man to
occupy against the expressed will Of a
majority Of the representatives of the
American people. The law-making
body. fresh from the people, should be
allowed to determine the policy Of a
given measure. The executive should
never interpose the veto except on consti-
tutional grounds. 1t should be cause for
impeachment when done for other reasons.
But Old Hickory would not have vetoed a
silver bill in his time nor to-day were he
at the helm, for he was a plain man Of
the people, for the people and against all
enCroachments on the rights of the
masses. Harrison stands on q different
plane altogether.
We may add in this connection that
we are extremely sorry that Sherman
was reelected to the Senate. We could
not count on Foraker's vote for silver,
but it would do us all 9 power of good
to see the author Of all our misfortnnes
in the mining regions driven out of public
life. Foraker is at least less able and could
therefore have done the cause OF silver
less injury had he been elected. But
Senator Sherman has been given the op-
portunity to round off . most remarkable
public career. With the completion Of
his present term in the Senate he will
have served continuously forty.four years
in public life. There is no doubt whatever
that he is a man Of great ability. He is
to-day the ablest statesman in the Re-
publican party by long odds. He is not
so astute as Blaine in getting before the
country on every popular breeze but he
is the more solid man OF the two. The
newspaper men about Washington say
Mr.. Blaine is the best living advertiser
Of his political wares Of the present age.
ON To CHILL.
The aspect of the difficulty with
Chill seems to be growing more serious
with each day. That country is said to
be more defiant day by day. If Mr..
Harrison and Mr.. Blaine are not trying