Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-11
THE VALUE or THE VETO.


The Democrats as a party have always
been recognized as the friends of the veto
powW. They have as rule stood by II
in season and out Of season. The Wings
incorporated into their platform in 1914
declaration against the veto. power
and then induced that Great Commoner'
Henry Clay. to mount that platform But
an unknown Democrat defeated him at the
polls, and we believe no anti-veto plank has
since been incorporated into the national
platform of either party. Tho people OF
this country believe in the veto power, ana
hold themselves ready to support it when
ever it shall come before them unencum-
bered by other issues. We say this with
out intending TO commit ourselves for or
ngainst the votes sent in TO Congress du-
ring the last. week or two by President
Cleveland. The circumstances under
which these vetoes were communicated
10 the two houses were peculiar
The New York Journal OF Commerce
gays that the Republican party settled the
greenback question under a long fire of
attack and Misrepresentation; and adds
that the initiation bill was passed by the
same Congress that passed the resumption
act. at was then that the fight was over
and the question was settled not by a vote
in Congress or by platform declaration
of a national convention, but by the eN-
ercise of presidential prerogative which
il is now the fashion to decry."
We have contended all along that the
silver question was an ephemeral one, and
that It ought to be settled out Of hand by
the national conventions Of the two par
ties. Let there be unmistakable declara-
lions made at st. Louis and Chicago on
the silver question. and the people be call
ed TO vote upon them in November. and
there is no good reason why the silver
problem might not be solved within a
surprisingly short period. Indeed, the
Journal Of Commerce claims that the Re
publican party is now settling the silver
question once for all.
The Journal says that the country was
saved from greenbackism, and has thus
far been saved from silverism, not by
party wisdom, nor by congressional action,
but by presidential vetoes. So we may
set that paper down as an advocate Of the
veto power, and give a few Of its reasons
for occupying that position. We quote:
Before the government is handed over
20 either party we want distinct pledge
from IL as TO what use il will make Of IT,.
and, furthermore, We insist on knowing
whether the men TO whom the actual
administration of affairs is entrusted are
men whose convictions and strength of
character are an assurance that II the
occasion arose they would stand up
against a majority OF Congress as Grant
and Hayes and Cleveland did"
standing up against majority in Con-
gress'' means the use of the veto power.
Ave quote again;
1--WE should undoubtedly have had n free
coinage bill from Congress two years ago
but for the notorious fact that President
Cleveland would veto 1t. and we did get
"A bill 10 coin the seigniorage, which the
President vetoed"
We quote these things as showing that
We may get the silver question out Of our
politics before we know IT, We quote
once more:
1.-The veto power Is of the utmost i'm
pOrtance to the country, not because the
President Is necessarily or always wiser
than Congress, but because there is a
sense Of responsibility resting upon a
single man which cannot be made TO rest
upon him who is only one four hundredth
OF legislative body, and the President
represents the entire country and all OF
is interests as an aggregate Of local
representatives cannot This is not say
lng that IT would be better to transfer
The legislative power from many 10 one,
sut II Is saying that the many, each with
Individual and local interests, are liable TO
commit acts which 1t is important that
least. and the presidential veto is only
partial"