The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-24

The greatest mistake Of President CIeve-
which be read the riot act 60 the United
States senate. In this letter be declared
that the che prinesple OF Democratic faith.
the s5Andonment Of which would be
party psrfdy. party dIshonov ana viols-
sion Of principle On which be could not
face tie people, was free raw material.
specifically limited 70 coal and iron" The
president wrote that on coal and iron
'-aay rate Of t2rih taxation, great or small,
j. alike yiolatiye Of Democratic prineipls
and Democratic good faith"
This was an exceedIngly reckless and
stupid letter. for President Cleveland IN
dertook to rally the house aud the people
about coal and iron duties when they were
reused 10 q white heat Of indignation over
the sugar steal, concerning which Mr..
Cleveland cared nothing whatever. He
vas ready 70 swallow the sugar trust and
the sugar schedule, IL he could only get
free coal and free iron. The president
les integrity. and now that he hiss been BY
Senator German what will he do? He
can veto the bill. which is what he ought
20 do. not only as matter Of principle nut
ss q matter Of policy TO save his reputa-
ton. He can sign the bill, or he can snf-
fer il to become = Law without his sigma
ture. He cannot sign the bill without self
qualification. If he does not veto it he
will stand before the country disgraced.
discredited. beaten man-bsaten by Cor
man. To adopt the middle course OF al
lowing ten days to elapse 90 that the bill
MAY become Law without bis signature
would be the act Of an executive sneak
under the circumstances.
What ought the president to dof He
ought to do what that able. upright Demo
cratic newspaper. the Brooklyn Eagle, adj
vises. viz: veto the bin. The Eagle says
there Is no occasion, no obligation for the
president to participate IN the infamy of
congress Nobody will be deceived by the
passive process Of allowing tho bill to be-
come law without his signature. He
might better sign than do that. Fer the
senate bill. II il become n Law, the Demo-
cratic congress and Democratic president
will be responsible.
President Cleveland could not do better
than to follow this advice of the Brooklyn
Eagle and veto the bill. His veto would
be- a blow between the eyes to the sugar
and whisky trusts. The one. upon the
authority Of Mr.. Wilson, has bought up
much raw sugar In order TO cheat the gov
eminent out Of the tax, aud will make q
profit of so. 000. 600. The other is rushing
whisky ont of bond in order to do the
same thing.
II the president cares anything about
his place in history he viii veto the bill.
SO far as the Republican party is con-
cerned 1t is of no consequence whether the
president signs the bill or vetoes it. If he
signs il he is convicted of Inconsistency
and eowardice, since he accepts bill
which he had declared would make the
Democratic party guilty OF ''perfidy and
dishonor." III the president yetoes the
bill the Republicans will point to the col
lapse of tariff legislation after two years OF
turbulent discussion as proof Of the inca
paeity of the Democratic party to govern
the country.
Whether the bill be signed or vetoed the
Republicans are likely TO carry the next
congressional elections. The president
cannot afford TO damage his own reputa-
ton beyond repair by sanctioning bill
which he has denounced without eusIifi-
cation. The Republicans, of course,
on purely partisan grounds, would be
glad to have the president sign the bill.
for II stands for corrupt surrender to the
sugar and whisky trusts; for abandoned
party pledges and principles, bat on
patriotic grounds the Republicans hold
that q veto by the president would be
good thing for the industrial aud CONNER
cial interests of the nation.
There are only two manly courses open
TO the president, to sign the tariff or to
veto it; to let the bin become q law with
out bis signature would be an unworthy
act. Only by a bold, resolute. defiant
veto can the president regain his lost
reputation. His second administration
has about dissipAted the Cleveland myth.
The Hawaiian hasco, the defeat of Cleve-
land by German, and Cieveland's manifest
suhservieney TO the sugar truss has about
robbed the Democratic owl of his uniform
as a heavy ariiiIerist President Cleye-
land challenged light with the senate on
specifically defined proiessed principles.
The senate dsfied him and compelled the
unconditional surrender Of the house. IL
the president proves that he has eapitula.
ted too. his reputation for courage aud
resolution Is utterly d.sereGitea; he can
only save IL by veto. But a veto nobody
expects, because his letter made il clear
that he had long ego surrendered to the
sugar trust: he Was willing TO swallow the
sugar trust; the sugar schedule; he in
sisted only upon free iron and free coal.
Is Is not believed that the president has
courage enough 10 kin the bill: he Is afraid
tho Mckinley tariff would be prolonged;
ne is not large enough 90 see that il would
lie better fer him and his party 10 indorse
the Mckinley tariff. fair tariff, until an
honest change could be Effected The i'm
pending senate tariff hlu passed By the
house settles nothing; 1t has bride and
steal in iss eslly and the president knowa
IL. lie will rot veto il. because IL pays a
the obligations OF the Democracy 20 the
sugar trust; be strovs IN VaIn - make the
BIN include free coal and free iron ore.
which would pat money IN the purse 81
the Democrats Nova Scotia coal syndicate
and in the pocket % the Democrats CabA
iron syndicate.
Tasrs is no prospect Of a veto. and WITH