Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-24
PRESIDENT MAKING.


the country in a constant fret, and the nnl-
.ieiano III perpetual Iever. Every man who
has prominent friend and who desires par
ticular office, wants that friend elected to the
Presidency. He does not wish him elected
from disinterested friendship; he does not wish
him elected because he is most capable and
most honest, but because he thinks and hopes,
and believes, that, if elected, he will give him the
particular Office he wants.
Whenever Presidential election approaches,
then offcer-seekers begin to agitate They pre-
tend to great patriotism, but have none they
declare that they have no personal interest,
when personal interest is their only motive.
Already they have begun to agitate for the
next Presidential election. They are indus
triously trimming their lamps, and making
their arrangements. Every four years these
mercenaries form conspiracy against the Anne
rican people.
When we consider the growth Of this great
confederacy, the distance that separates the
States from each other, the increasing impor-
lance Of the Presidential Office, and the conse.
quent increase Of the excitement that attends
upon the election of Chief Magistrate, we are
almost ready to say that one of the few mis-
takes made by the trainers Of our Constitution
was in limiting the term to four years. Such
are the struggles Of the outs" such the fierce
resentments Of indignant and disappointed
patriots such the combinations entered into by
men Of all hues and stripes such the antago.
nism of sections, and SO intense and impatient
the ambitions Of rival aspirants, that we dread
the so frequently occurring throes and convul-
sions ofthose administrative revolutions, known
as elections Since the days of Jackson, that
man Of iron, SO instinctively right in forming
his purposes, and SO heroically resolute in ex-
ecuting them, it seems an impossibility to re-
elect the same President for second term. If
good President, it is difficult; if bad Pre-
sident, luckily, it is utterly impossible.
Generally the most unfit aspirants have the
noisest and most clamorous partisans These
men are so fearful that others will get before
their favorites that they prematurely begin agi-
tation.
Already our ears have been disturbed by the
premature din Of the approaching canvass.
Already has name after name been presented
in connection with the office. individuals are
beginning to proclaim their preferences and
many Of the newspapers are flying the names
Of their pet candidates at their mast-heads.
The Pennsylvania Legislature has put forward
the pretensions Of one gentleman altogether
unknown to the political world and New Jer.
sey has put forward the pretensions Of another
gentleman who is equally happy in political
obscurity.
" Coming events cast their shadows before
them" and these things are but the shadows
Of the approaching canvass. They are float.
ing straws, twigs, and timbers, that indicate 10
the mariner the contiguity Of land.
We think that the bitter experience OF this
country has impressed upon the American
mind, without distinction Of party, the utter
folly Of elevating to that high station, the Pres
idency, obscure, unknown, and unfit men.
They want educated, eminent, and experienced
statesmen We have sufficiently long tried
men Of the other stamp, all Of whom have been
found wanting. II is time to renounce them
altogether. One Of the evil results of the sys.
tenn which has several times been pursued Of
passing over the statesmen Of the country. Is.
that statesmen have begun to despair Of reach.
ing the Presidency, and thus lose the powerful
incentives TO usefulness, activity, and service.
that are supplied by noble and hopeful
ambition. Another evil result is, that the
country is insulted and outraged by the inso.
lent aspirations Of men who cannot even be
elected constables, justices Of the peace. or
county representatives, by the people among
whom they live, and who have never had anv
manner Of acquaintance or connection with
politics.
Grave and important as Presidential can
vases are, they yet do not pass of without
their comical accompaniment. Just before
the arrival Of the period for making nomina-
tons, many Of the asprants, moved by com
mendable desire TO instruct their ignorant fel.
lowcitizens, put themselves to the expense and
trouble to travel about the country for the pur.
pose Of delivering lectures. They thus inter
iere sadly with that valuable class Of scientific
men who follow the business for a living. Is
there a temperance society that needs money
is there charitable society that is suffering
for funds wherewith to buy hannels for young
Africans who would be more comfortable with.
out them2 Ifso, and it is generally the case,
these phianthropic travelling aspirants gladly
avail themselves of the occasion to deliver a
lecture for the benefit Of such association
price Of admittance twenty-five cents. They
thus keep themselves before the public and
warm up the woolly-headed young Ethiopians
at one and the same time. They kill two birds