The Issues Before The Country

Early yesterday morning Senator Bayard stated his views as to the presmt attitude of politica] partios in tliis ïountry at some length to a reporter oí ;he World who waited upon him for ,hat purpose at the house of a friend m this city. "In tliis terrible warm weather - a regular extra session of it - t is really asking too much of me to take rny thoughts back to the still hotter Washington," began Senator Bayard in a half quizzical way, and then assuming his usual dignilied and thoughtful expression he eontinued: "Nevertheless if the editor of the World regards my views as serviccable to the public I shali take great pleasure in stating them in a general way. I was opposed to the extra session and much regretted tbat it was called; and yet history will say that the event was unavoidable, for in the attitude which the Democratie party representing the public sentiment of the countrj in the two houses of Congress and Mr. Ilayes representing the Republican party and having possession of the Executive Department respectively took the collision was bound tooccur; and this extra session may prove of great use in deflning the relations that must be expected to exist during the remainder of Mr. liayes' term between him and the dominant majorities in the two houses. Urged on by the 'stalwart' cabal of his own party Mr. Hayes has been led to mak e claims of power and to take a position wholly untenable. The issues which he has thus unwisely raised are fundamental in their character, and it is well for the American people to be recalled to the true nature of their government and to the principies upon which hopes for its maintenance are to be based. The Democrats have demandednothing at the extra session that was not just, fair and timely. They promptly passed the Appropriation bill supplying the army with $27,000,000, and simply proposed to repeal a provisión of law, which, according to its author, Senator Jacob Iloward, of Michigan, was confessedly a war measure only, and which permitted troops to be brought to the polls of election to keep thepeace. It is diflicult to see how any man friendly to a govemment of laws should desire to continue such a measure in time of peace. In fact, the question of the necessity of holding elections without the presence of armed f orce does not bear discussion ; and it was a lamentable illustration of the intensity and blindness of party Ceeling when nota single inember of the Bepubliean party in either House ventured to record his vote in favor of the repeal of so un-American and indefensibie i law. No more foroible arguments nor vigorous condemnation of such uses of the army are needed than are supplied by public speeches and opiniona of two membera of Mr. Hayos'a cabiiiet - Mr. Evarfs and Mr. Schurz. But it seems that Mr. Haven could nol wlthstand the threate and growls of the 'stalwart' leaders of hia party and suffered hhuself to be, depressed below the proper level of the diiücs of liis place. To tlie demand for broad and high statesmanship that the situatiou made lie responded in the tone oí a mere party poliücian. Thebill vvhich promptly and fully supplied the army he retnrned with a statement ut' bis objections whieti took ; [ie f irtn of i runhing debate tn feply to certain members of the Sen ate and House. He had been referied to as 1 think unwisely and impropeilv in the cour.se of this debate in terms of scant respect, but it was clearly a most exceptionable and unprecetlented thing for a President ander tbe cover of a veto to enter into purly personal debate with the two houses. But one thlng he lias succeeded in and that is to show that be bas the will and power to obstruct the passage of laws by an arbitrary voto power based upon party discretion, and thna throw the Government into confusión and flll the public ïnind witli apitrehensions by preventing Congreasional supplies. "What is your judgment upon the new doctrine which the Kepublican organs take - that the President is a coordínate andequal part of legislation upon all questions of policy, expediency and necessity V" "That is another question that has been raised by the pretentions of Mr. llayes in liis collision with the Congress. The result of this claim of power over legislation would, in effect convert the Executive Department into a third House of Congress. This is a fundamentally false and dangerous position and alises from either a total misconception or a partisan diatortion of the true functions of his office. The first article of the Constitution provides that all legislativo power therein granted shall be vested in Congress of the United States, wbich shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives - the adjective 'all,' the verb 'vested' and the noun -Congress' have unmistakable meaninga. This law is explicit. No false interruption of the subsequent provisions of the Constitution whichvest in the Jresident a qualifled veto power can destroy the effect of that reading. ïhia veto power is expressly subject to a twothirda voteby the two houses, and the objects for wh;ch it was delegared are stated by Alexander Ilamilton to be the protection of the Constitution from overthrow, to prevent invasión of the just prerogative of the other departdy and check inadvertent and hasty legislation. But the constructiou given by the President in his veto message at the extra session would necessai ily involve not only the assumption of legislative power by the Executivebranch, but the particular absorption of all the powers of the Government to his hands, lf such reasoning is to be maintained, the American people must contémplate an executive ranch of the Government armed with power ampie for its own indefinita perpetuation and which willinevitably be used for such purposes. In the face of such an issue so raised and emphasized by the President and his counsellors at the late extra session, I deern it of the utmost importance that the people of tliis country should comprehend his meaning and the effect of the powers for which be contends, and which, if allowed, will be fatal to that distribution of powers which our forei'athers deemed to be essential for the preservation of li)erty. - N. Y, World.