New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-24
THE PRESIDENT N DOUBT

Protests against the Vacuum bill multiply.
and almost all commercial and financial bodies
in the country are joining. If the President
disregards them he will teach business men of
the West AMI South, as we'll rs of the East.
that in trusting him in financial affairs they
have been strangely in error Yet he waits,
leaving even his nearest friends nj Washington
in doub, about his purpose and refuses TO en-
barrasscd industries and trade the relief which
simple announcement Of his determination
to veto the bill would Immediately give II Is
reasoned that he wishes at least to appear TO
take all the time allowed for consideration. as
If the question were one of grave difficulty But
he must have known before the bill was passed,
as well as he could know after months Of in
vcstgation. that it would be false TO his record
and an incalcuabc injury to the country 10
allow the bill to become law.
Two motives are alleged for his hesitation
The first is that silver agitation can be stopped
by allowing this measure to become n law. But
the President betrays weakness if he shrinks
from vctoing a frecsilvcr BILL and he knows
that no hurtful measure OF that sort can be
passed over his veto. The pretended danger on
that side is purely ina ginary. unless h. is think
ing of his personal popularity with silver infa
tionists and not of the public welfare The
other motive is supposed to be anxiety To get
the Tariff bill passed. Men have tried To bully
him into approval of the Vacuum bill by
threats They have even declared that Il free
coinage amendment will be added to the Tariff
bill by Democratic votes if he vctocS the Bland
bill, and that he will then be forced to sign and
approve the measure with frcccoinaGc see
ton or to veto tariff reform. But If the Prcsi-
e.. &, h,.c hc ia XVpnk. 81
than any opponent has supposed.
1t is doubtful whether the Democrats who
want free coinage could all be induced to make
the success of any Tariff bill this year depend
on that issue Part of them care infinitely
more for the change Of tariff than for silver
coinage But if the bill should go TO him in
that shape, the President could instantly send
1t back casting upon his friends in Congress
the entire responsibility for failure 10 send him
a proper tariff bill without Objectionable none
tary provisions The two houses would then be
forced to act on the tariff question by itself.
Should they refuse or fail, the responsibility
would not lie in any measure with Mr. Clcvc-
land. whose record on both questions would
then be in entire accord with his declared con
vctOns.
The possibility that The Tariff bill may be
silver men, should not disturb the President in
the least. Rather il should be regarded by him
as opening q door Of relief from most serious
responsibilities. The revenue bill as il stands
ought TO be offensive TO him. It's outrageous
and utterly unnecessary income tax. and rs
shameless barterng of public interests with
rapacious monopolies, he ought 10 resent even
as Democrats by the thousand in Indiana are
resenting Senator Voorhees, report in favor
Of the bill Ii is an indecent measure, and one
which can bring nothing but disgrace upon the
party in power, and a really strong leader
would joyfuy welcome an opportunity 10 com
pei Congress TO pass better revenue bill or
none
1t has been the Presidents ambition 10 control
his party in harmony with his own convictions
Of duty. Whether he will surrender those con
victions now. ut the dictatiOn Of Southern and
Western inhatOnists. even his best friends APP
pear TO doubt, which is not to his credit But
they do not cease to hope that he will justify
their past confidence by Il veto measure which
they believe he is now preparing.