Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1878 — The Veto. [ARTICLE]

The Veto.

We have been informed from day to day by the wise men in the East that the veto would come. The veto did come, was solemnly read, and the President heard something drop. Had he been intent or anxious to know the wants of the people who elevated him to power—to aid instead of embarrass them—he could have heard the voice, for it has not been whispered in a corner. And he will bave in the future abundant opportunity to hear and understand it Tlio President speaks of “ bad faith,” and that the “standard of value should not be changed without the consent of both parties to the contract.” The truth is, the bad faith was shown when silver was demonetized. There is small demand fur the sympathy of the Executive for the other party, vhose interest he appears so anxious to protect, for they have grown rich and proud and imperious. While commerce has been consumed, labor prostrated, and every interest beggared day by day and month by month, wealth has flown to the coffers of a few capitalists who to-day raise the howl of bad faith and broken pledges, which the President of the United States magnifies, and attempts to dignify, by supporting with his veto. The President has but a small conception of the deep feeling which pervades the country upon’this subject. And we wish to assure him, and the gold aristocracy he so ably represents, that they are not only contending against the feelings, but also against the earnest opinions of honest men, who keep their pledges, fight the battles of the country, and are the source of its honor and its wealth. The redress they ask is not in “bad faith” or broken pledges, but a restoration of tbeir rights and the privilege of living, without forever being within sight of the auctioneer and the terrors of bankruptcy. Congress, which is nearer the people than the President, and are responsible for the law, have taken the burden from his shoulders. If he had any desire to keep in sympathy with the people, he would have been wise to make no such test. The right to exercise the veto at any time is a doubtful prerogative. Upon a measure of this character, with a nation groaning under its burdens, it is an net. showing cold blood, want of sympathy, justice or wisdom. By this action the President has widened the breach between himself and the people, and struck a most disorganizing blow at the party that placed him in power. What the ultimate result may be is uncertain. For years the people had urged their complaints upon the authorities at Washington only to be ignored or jeered at. They became angered—well-nigh disparate. With stagnation in business, bankruptcy nil about them, and financial embarrassment in almost every household—wifli the possibility of bread rioti in the midst of plenty, they went into the silver fight determined to make their influence felt The bitterness thrown into the contest by the gcld-bugs has had no tendency to assuage their intense feeling, but rather to intensify and embitter it. Elated with victory, and assured of power, the popular tide may run far beyond what was at first dreamed of, and the bitter and unreasoning opponents of silver may find too late that having sown the wind the whirlwind will follow after. —Chicago Inter-Ocean.