Senator Harrison had a significant role in pushing forward the 1887 bill, and signed a similar piece of legislation once he took office as President some two years after Cleveland sent this veto message. Democrats charged that the expansion of the pension roles would lead to rampant corruption, and the swelling size of federal expenditure propelled the Democrats to sweeping victories in the 1890 midterm elections.
Cleveland earned the respect of his countrymen with the tone he took in messages like this one, aimed at promoting national interest even at the expense of his personal popularity.
…the evil threatened by this bill is, in my opinion, such that, charged with a great responsibility in behalf of the people, I can not do otherwise than to bring to the consideration of this measure my best efforts of thought and judgment and perform my constitutional duty in relation thereto, regardless of all consequences except such as appear to me to be related to the best and highest interests of the country.
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