The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-30
Veto Of the seignioraee.Bin.


The veto Of the seicuioraee bill was ex-
pected Representative Bland. its au-
thor. said two or three days ago that he
did not think the President would sign it,
The meaning of the bill was so doubtful
that the President would have felt it his
duty 10 veto it even II he were in favor Of
coming the sei-ni0rage. It was open to
two constructions, and, besides. it con-
tanned provisions that had no relation
whatever 10 The seigniorage - provis-
ions that made IL extremely dangerous.
Why it was drawn so that il was open 10
t7-o constructions is one of the things
that has rot yet been explained. Atten-
ton was called to its faulty construction
before it passed the House. but permits
sion TO amend it in any particular was re-
sisted IL really looks as If those who
were most active in its behalf sought 70
get more than they pretended 70 ask for,
believing that il it reached the Presi-
dent be would not take the responsibility
of vetoing it, There is another
view OF the matter. 1t is that it was
passed in the shape in which it was
sent TO the President with the purpose of
having it vetoed, the idea being that
veto would help 10 strengthen the senti-
ment in favor of the free Coinage Of silver.
1t is evident that Nh Bland and his sill
verite followers purpose to make silver an
issue in the congressional campaigns, and
in the next national campaign. 1t is not
improbable that they think the country
is with them in their fight for free silver
coinage. If they hold that view they
viii find they are mistaken.
The President intimates that he would
sign bill for the coinage of the seign-
forage provided it expressed clearly that
purpose, and only that purpose, and also
authorized the Secretary OF the Treasury
to sell bonds for gold In tho present
temper Of congress there is not much
probability of the passage of that kind of
a bill. No doubt bill providing only for
the coinage of the seigniorage could be
put through both the House and the Sem
ate very quickly, but there seems to be a
of any more bonds.
The President was strongly urged by
many influential democratic congressman
to sign the bill. In declining to accept
their advice he showed himself to be more
of a statesman than politician. He re-
fused to allow himself to be influenced by
the effect a veto might have upon his
party
He thought only of the welfare of the
whole country. He was satisfied that il
he should sign the bill, or permit it to be
come a law without lis signature, the
credit of the government would be in dan
ger of becoming seriously impaired. Hold
ing that opinion, and the best fiuanciers
of the country agree with him, he
could not conscientiously have done
otherwise than he did He may be criti-
cised now, but the time will come when
the wisdom of his course will be admitted.
He stands squarely for sound money,
without which there cannot be perma-
nent prosperity.
IL is probable that the silverites will
now attempt to pass free silver coinage
bill. If they should they would do 50
only for the purpose Of making political
capital in their respective districts They
know that such a bill would not be APP
proved by the President. The tire
therefore that would be spent in discuss
ing bill Of that kind would be thrown
aVyav