The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-10

|#.,1 81 & III n
on one side and the centralists on the other
should ever have departed from his con
elusive reasoning.
Defeated by Woman.
The first veto message on April 5, 1902,
merely requested congress TO change the
system Of representation provided for in
the bill, and the second, five years later,
only insisted that company Of dragons
should be kept in service a few years long
er In everything else Washington yielded
TO the will Of congress Exactly IA years
passed away before there was another veto,
aud then they followed one or two per year
until Monroes one only, and eight years
followed that before Andrew jackson COM
menced his vigorous career.
Il would be IN vain to attempt TO give
the present generation any idea of the in
cessant storm which prevailed during the
three years he was issuing vetoes so rapid
~, fighting the Wings on one hand and the
nullihers on the other, denouncing his en-
emies with unsparing vehemence and re-
constructing his cabinet on the financial
question once and on the social question
twice, even attempting to compel the ladies
Of Washington TO accept as a leader in
society lady who had been Familiarity
known before her marriage as Peg
O'Neill D." The sportive journalists OF that
time nicknamed her "Bellona, " the alleged
goddess OF war and il Is an amusing fact that
while Jackson won in every other contest
he was defeated by the women, who sue
ceeded in expelling "Bellona" from good
society. Through all this racket jackson
was infexible and never appeared so happy
as when all his enemies jumped on him at
once, standing a little sitter and raising
himself little higher the more he was at
tackled.
Like some tall cliff that lifts its awful form
Above the clouds, and midway leaves the
storm.
Though round its base the rolling clouds be
spread.
Eternal sunshine gltters on its head.
General Grants Famous Veto.
Jackson twtcc vetoed United States
bank. though under different names, and
Tyler did the same. Folks most noted
veto was that ia regard to the French spoil
alton claims. Franklin Pierce vetoed sub
stantally the same bill. and portions Of il
have since been vetoed I'm various forms.
Andrew johnson twice vetoed bills for the
continuation Of the Freedmans bureau.
and did the same for bills admitting Colo
RADIO and Nebraska Congress passed the
Nebraska act over his head, but Colorado
remained out Of the Union 10 years longer
by reason Of his action.
Nearly all the vetoes Of Grant were of re
lief acts and all the others together did not
excite as much comment rs his veto OF the
act for paying J. Milton Best So, 600 for his
dwelling house at paducah. which was de
stroyed by the United States army. This
case, being "A leading one, caused me TO look
through the papers filed in the house com
mittec on claims, and find that J. Milton
10 still hammeriug away, and the chances
how seem to be that he may get something
yetoes Of Pensions.
Cleveland vetoes Of pension bills are so
recent that every reader romem bers the
racket thereon. But il ought 20 be said
that in "a very large majority Of these eases
the veto was justified 10y subsequent events.
ia several cases the applicant was really
put IN better fix by having his special
bin vetoed. Unfortunately, however, for
the president, he got so much in the habit
Of vetoing pension bills that he became
faeetious and attempted TO make joke Of
IL. and that didn't 20 down with the Amer
lean people. His famous joke about the
B deadly character Of the saddles used by
our cavalry" probably made him more
enemies and bitterer enemies than any 10
. of his vetOes.
But the big case against him was made
on the famous-l might almost say notori-
ous-veto Of the act granting pension 20
Andrew J. Wilson. In this gentleman
applications he alleged no less than sew
en- serious injuries resulting from seven
months service, five Of them after the close
Of hostilities, whereupon the president was
moved To make this comment, which j.
probably oM enough 10 appear new TO some
readers: Whatever else may be said OF
this claimants achievements during his
short military career, b. must be conceded
that he accumulated a great deal OF disa
bility There Us uu doubt IN my mind that
whatever ailmeut be may honestly las
claim 10, his title 10 the same was complete
before be entered the army" There ar,
several shrewc politicians in congress who
viii tell you that those two sentences cost
Grover Cleveland not less than 10, 900 votes
in le''-a fearful warning 10 presidents moi
Ia try 90 be- funny.
Necessity of Despotic Power.
. in conclusion, 10 may Dee said that the vet'
( power d, boss obsolete in England. ~ IL hai
hot hern used Tor over 100 years and thai
Ia This. Hs in -o many other things. the rul
er Of O. republic has vastly more power thar
the hrnd ~ a constitutional monarchy, an,
- the fact that democratic presidents hav'
employed tbe veto 30 much more freel,
. than thc other Kind D. only an illustrat ion
/ Of the -nme principle As the power q tn
. president iu disposing Of Offices IL 30 time
, that ~ the queen, so is his power in oh
70 structing legislation, which only adds
proof % many others that a certain sort o
, despotic power must De- lodged s0mewher
under any form 81 governments
Z j. Is. PAEKE.