Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-06-07
BLOOMINGTON, IoE1 ,sRIDAY, JUNE I, 1914

JN.1T1OyN:gL LEGIsLAT7OJv
Notwithstanding .Agoiast the National
Interest.
Legislation at Washington, during the
present session, if that name can be given
to such useless expenditure of Zine and
money, confirms US in the opinion long
since and frequently expressed about the
necessity of reducing the executive pat>
ronage. We have often said and still say,
that all our national evils ensue from Pres.
ident.making, and that President-making'
is the especial business of of1iceholders
and officeseekers. Congress has now
been in session during four months and
half, period amply sufficient, for all
useful legislation. But what have our le-
gislators done during this period! We,
could mucl, more easily tell what they
had left undone. The tariff, the post Of
fee, the rivers and harbors, the army and
navy, the Oregon Territory. are subjects
which have long been before them, and
are before them still and we have some
reasons for supposing that most Of these
subjects, instead of being decided during
the present session, will be postponed as
subjects of agitation during the Presiden-
tial election now pending. And thus are
subjects involving important national in
terests disposed of by the National Legis-
lature according to their influence upon the
Presidential election, and thus are nation
al interests sacrificed to President making.
Under the present constitution of the
Federal Government, no policy can be
permanent. Change, huctualion, insta-
bili:y, to the injury of all business, and
often 10 the ruin of some branches, must
govern the national policy Of these States
while the existing constitution continues.
On all national subjects, the British Gov
eminent legislate for centuries. British
statesmen assume that nations never die,
and that generations are necessary to the
growth of national interest, and that any
interest which has thus been the work of
ages, should not be destroyed III a day or
year. Though we do not approve the
whole history of the British Government,
as we see its horrible consequences at
home and abroad, yet we cannot refrain
from contrasting, to our own discredit,
this far-seeing, sagacious. patient states
manship, with the political philosophy Of
will give to no national interest more than
living from hand to mouth. The same
sagacity expended in seeking the happl>
ness of the whole people, which the Brit
ish Government has expended for that OF
an oligarchy, few aristocracies, would
have made the British nation the hapPiest,
as it is among the most powerful. on earth.
But IN our country, no policy can endure
beyond an administration we mean be-
yond term of the Presidency, or beyond
the Presidency of single incumbent; for
as Presidential election is always pen
ding, all Legislation in Congress will al
ways be under its influence. Beginning
with an Inauguration, we find that the de-
feated party, or some new party, lmmedl'
ately prepare for another campaign. This
compels the successful party to prepare
for defence and then all legislative action
of each refers entirely TO this campaign.
Upon each legislative proposition, the
question will be how will this affect the
election 2 and not how will it affect ma
tional prosperity and honor!' Of this
we have had signal and mischievous ex-
amples in all Congressional quarrels about
the currency since 1880; for in all these,
the question among politicians was, will
this promote or defeat the election of Gen.
Jackson, of Mr.. Clay, or Mr.. Van Buren,,
or General Harrison 2 And we now have
similar examples in the pending tariff bill,
the post-office bill, the harbor and river
bill, and several others. All these must
be kept during the recess as subjects OF
agitation. for the manufacture of influence
for or against some candidate for the Pres.
idency!
The remedy for all this mischief is sim
pie and practicable and it is an amend
ment of the constitution to take from the
Executive all lis present patronage, ex'
cep,ng the judicial and military. 1t the
President has nothing TO give, members
of Congress or leading politicians can
have no personal interest in his election.
and therefore will abandon the business Of
President making.-Dollar Newspaper.
"He IS ONLY A MEcHANlc."-How fire.
ouen,ly is tpe remark made by aristocratlc up
starts, who have nothing to recommend them
save money and impudence, when the name
of an honest mechanic happens to be mention
ed in their presence. They consider 1t degra'
ding to converse, and communicating 10 assocf
ate with those who do not, like themselve:
possess wealth, even though that wealth wa
obtained by the most rascally means: NO
thing is SO disgusting to well informed we,