New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-22
RESTRICTION OF THE VETO.
CHAUNCEY F. BLACK DEFENDS HIS
PROPOSITION.
HE DENIES THAT 1T is STARTLING OR REVOLT
TIoNARY AND REPLIES TO THE ARGU-

MENTs OF HIS CRITICS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIPUNE.l
Washington. May 2l.-In an interview here several
weeks ago ex-Lieutensnt- Governor Chauncey F.
Black, of Pennsylvania, while avoWing himself a
sound-money man. said that IL the Democratic party
at Chicago should declare for free coinage of silver
he would abide by the decision. He reprobated the
suggestion of bolt by either faction and proposed
a measure to obviate all difficulty at Chicago. a
declaration by the National Convention committing
the nominee of the convention, II elected President.
to the signing of any bill covering the use OF silver
money which might pass Congress with major
ty of Democratic votes in its favor. The interview
attracted wide attention. and In some quarters Mr..
Black was accused Of prophesying the elimination
of the veto from the Constitution by party action.
In further discussion of the subject Mr. Black ad-
heres to his proposition and replies to his critics
He says:
This Is a simple proposition to declare that 10
veto measure formally demanded by majority
of the people after It's due submission to them and
upon full consideration at general election. ana
then passed into the form OF law by congress
elected for the express purpose would be an abuse
OF the power conferred the President for the pro-
lection OF people and not for their suppression
Is this startling? Is II revolutionary? Those VINO
choose regard 1t In that way must have given the
subject very little intelligent examination The star
Ting and revolutionary proposition Is not NINE Out
theirs, namely, that the rule of the people must De
suspended when IL comes 10 a question: VI s"'''
coinage VIII any OF these who have written and
spoken so fippanty In that direction face the public
with explicit declaration that the Will OF the ma
Jorty legally ascertaned at the polls ought MOI W
be regarded. and shall not be-
After discussing the history OF the veto from the
beginning of the Government. Mr. Black concludes;
When did the veto power become SO much more
sacred than any other enumerated by the Consttu-
ton that political parties may not pledge .nef
abuse? They do with regard to all the rest, from
The Chicago Convention. the ST. Louis Convention
and all other conventions Will do 80 ths year Just
declarations, with all the implied restrictions. when
they accept their nominations. But when IL comes
upon a single specific question about TO be sub,
United to the people, certain CLASS oi men anu
tended TO be democratic-cry out that this Is GRIP
ping the Executive and sacrificing some unidenti-
well, how does 1t cripple the Executive? Is he
crippled BY his phg PeIss' on s.s srM There
is principle involved in the COINAGE question
There Is no doubt as to the s b ana H"G may " Ws
1t was never made party test or tenet Spin
with US would mean what II meant IN IS' rN o see
the return of the Democratic party to power 49,,
whether silver men or gold men. subject their re-
spective causes to unnecessary peril ShTuid , lh1
wing bolt then for The first time the he a syd. woId
silver campaign under the regular Nau9lai Deno
cratic Win a S great a4 ad Of orou-
history The Democratic vote for the boilers gold
standard ticket would be shorn down TO ngures SO
comparatively insignificant AS utterly 10 dlsciti IL
ruin. the gold faction, 80 la1 as Wy i1r,o
cratic party is concerned. The same would happen
In the Silver States should the silver men failing 20
control The convention follow the extremists out oil
the organization and into the OPEN mr. fr ne
conscientious party man who cares more Ior tlu
great body OF Democratic principles than TOT FIN,
10 the call OF the old party-the bodyguard OF the
Constitution and the buwark OF States rghts-ahd
leave the boilers 10 their fate go l., -.
convention ~ ,,,,
ut looks that way just now. The bitter reyilngs
and insane threats OF somo OF the gold people are
rapklly swelling the ranks OF the silver men, be-
sides giving the controversy dangerously sectioh-
al aspect With Iowa and 1llin9s ysioy sr,t,h hs
other side Increasing the inevitable looms mp.
the outlook is anything but agreeable TO Demo
is something more in democracy man H,''htn
tary coinage question. Senator HI himself ana
genuine Democrats from al sections ana oil a..
views upon silver will be In the convention. ana We
must trust To their wisdom 10 ma "A basis upon
which TIE party can T. mnited ana set j" tho "ed
'Suppos.ng the convention should adopt your
suggestion. what would be tho effect In the can
TT would solldify tho party and bring back
,honsands o.. voters who have wandered N during
tne laat few years I'm resent ment over the alleged
nate tho silver question and leave AZ tho principal
issu. the Mckinley threat to disturb the country
by a renewed agitation for n" Imposition 81 Nc
Kinlev tariff taxes on that issue Mckinley
would be defeated. He would stand Tor every sep
arate item Of the Mckinley bill and bis party
would be Tequrei TO explain ana irirni rv,ry one
act,r and his many winning qualities. lie " lull I'm
that case bc the weakest candidate The Republl-
Teve ,atuousIy that the prohbitivo tarln issue.
nonhodied I'm their chioftan. would certainly carry
therr in The Democrats DO not. " ~ Just there
,hev would Ike to have the battle pitched"