The Portland daily press., 1894-08-29
THE PRESIDENTS HUMILIATION.


THE PRESIDENTS HUMILIATION.
Mr.. Cleveland had better not have
written his last letter to Mr.. Catchings.
Cowardice is never explainable, and the
best thing for the person who is guilty
OF 1t to do is to keep out of sight until
people have forgotten about it. A
month ago Mr.. Cleveland solemnly de-
clared in letter practically addressed
to the House of Representatives and the
American people, that the German bill
was tainted with perfidy and dishonor.
He said 1T was a betrayal of Democratic
promises and principles, and he asked
with fine show of indignation show
can we face the people after indulging in
such outrageous Determinations and
violations of principle" His ar-aign-
ment of the bill was no ordinary criti-
cism of it's features as unwise or not the
best posi- bic. He said it was branded
with party perfidy and party dishonor.
60 evident was it after that letter was
published that the President could not
allow the bill which he condemned to
become law without convicting him
self of gross Inconsistency and coward
ice that the Democratic organs, especial
ly those of the cuckoo variety. regarded
the letter as substantially notification
to Congress that if the Senate bill passed
1T would encounter the Presidents veto.
Probably the President, with that exag-
Grated sense of his own influence and
power, which he has always entertained,
thought the letter would so terrify the
coterie of Democratic Senators who had
INSTRUCTED the path of SO called tariff re-
form, that they would Immediately re-
move all the obstacles and permit the
President to have his own way. He
probably never contemplated the posi-
b1llty of having the bill sent TO him for
his official action, else it is scarcely pos
slble that he would have given express
sion TO opinions which would leave him
no escape from disqualification. but
through veto. Cleveland undoubtedly
expected, felt absolutely certain, that
his letter would drive away all the
mists In which the wicked Senators had
enyeloped the sun of tariff reform and
permit that luminary to shine out
bright and clear. But he was mistaken.
The unexpected happened The Senate
Dill branded with party perfidy and dis
honor went to him for his official ac-
tion. Had he been the courageous man
he has been believed to be he would
have promptly vetoed it. That was tbe
only course that he could pursue with
out self qualification and without max
ing himself responsible for measure
that he had denounced in unmeasnred
terms. That was, the only course he
could pursue without characterization.
| No doubt the Presidents instincts i'm
PEELED him in that direction. But the
| pressure of his party was too much fo,
his backbone, and he undertook to avoid
| response iliry for the bill by stepping
one side and allowing 1t to become =
law without his signature. That was
really the weakest and most huniliatine
course he could have pursued. 1t re.
| lieved him of not one whit of the respon.
sibility; he was officially just as respou.
sible for its becoming law as If he had
signed it. The only thing he accom-
| plished by Withholding his signature
was to inform the people that he was
ashamed of his official action in permit
ting the bill to become law. But as il
this were not enough of personal humil
iation he consented at the solicitation a
Congressman Catchings to write let
ter emphasizing the fact that he wa
ashamed of the bill and disapproved O
| it, and only consented to let it become
| law because it was "chargeable to Dem
ocratic effort" The bill is an ourra
| geous violation of Democratic pledge
and principles, he said it is full OF perfid,
and dishonor, it contains outrageous dis
elimination and violations of principle
but because it was passed by Demo
Gratis, therefore I will allow it, tainte,
as it is all over with fraud and disrepu
table bargainings, to become law. Did
ever a more humiliating confession O
abject servility come from any executis
officer?