Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-12-29

because the character Of republican Institutions
REQUIRES that the chief magistrate shall be sooss
ali suspicion of using the machinery OF when u,
is the official head to promote biz own PERSONA
aims"
This one term theory in abort assumes 'ns'
President seesing reelection recognizes a
nultitudpous srmy of ofi,e holders" ss the
only exponent Of popular viii and opinion worth
influencing or conciliAtiDg, that small cunning
IL the manipulation Of personal patronage is the
s.,;es,. resiies: and most direct means OF pr
chasing a new lease Of power. Now IN the iigh'
of ,,neriepce is there any evidence that any
President ever cozenei the non-ofice holding
millions Of this nstioa ont Of their natural Tree
l.n Of choice, and secured q reelection by the
influence Of personal patronage cOrruptly welded
tbroupb = few thousand Office holders? Such
81 attemp. is TOO idiotic to be tried by man OF
ordinary sense, and its sordid purpose too openly
,ppsrent to deceive the country for moment
The poblic sense Of their services re-elect-
ed Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe,Jack-
son sid Lincoln, and nobody to-day believes thar
their ne lease of power was obtained because they
were more skilful and more interruptions IN the
manipulation Of party tpoils than the Adsmses'
Van Buren,. Polk, Pierce and Buchanan, who all
failed OF second popular endorsement. tx
per;snce, then, shows that the Prefidents elected
70 q second term we're those who have earned
the rubiic confidence, won by stAtesmanship, not
bought by the artful and corrupt use OF sp-
n5iDtments. Finally, will any reasonable man
ARGUE with Mr.. Sumner that the hope Of re-
election is an incentive to unworthy conduct
The eyes Of bis own party, always jealous OF the
Executives honor, are upon him ; the eyes oil
bis roliticsl foea, always quick to sssail him on
the slightest pretezt for criticism, wstch his
every act. No man knows better than Presi-
dent that the suicidal policy for himself Is the
very one that Mr. Summers theory assumes
he is TENTED to practice. No man it go pow
erfally pressed by his surroundings to turn a
deaf ear to its stupid pTOmptings. The real
abuse. Of party patronage have not baen hereto
fore 81 much the fault Of the Executive, as OF the
system. which permitted Congressman to really
make, through their psrsoaal Recommendations
the appointments, Of whose character the Ez-
esa.iye must ofen have necessarily been per-
onany ignorant: The rev regulations stop
political prescriptions. establish competitive ez-
anina,ions. AMI give Us real " one man y
mower Of appointment for ;hs irresponsible
system Of Congressional recommendations. The
President. who mas nov tile real responsibility
IS Of all men the least likely TO corrupt the cause
Of civil reform, committed TO his charge, by
msAing It subordinate so the cause Of his re-
election.
Instead OF supporting one term - amend
men.. which mich, deprive the people, in an
ezireaey not impossible oaglia occur, ofthe con
tinuaus services Of man who had won their pecul-
lar confidence and regard ,7earef far more inclined
TO believe thst term Of ak years would be bet
,sr ,Aan four, aud would rot even then conoed'
that there was any souniuess in the assertion
that. double term Of Presidents. cfice is =
practical obstacle to the coDsummation Of genu'
Inc civil service islorm. Al The natural ten
denotes of human nature urge President Il
court second tern by good behavior, rather
tbsn by dissertation Of his high trusts after th'
low sad sordid style Of a Tammany politician.