The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-09-22
THE ONE.TERM PRINCIPLE.
What Horace Gre eley Thinks about Il.


forthcoming November GALAXY on The
One Term Principal" The following is
summary of his views:
Starting with the idea that civil ser.
vice reform is essential to the puritica-
ton of our politics, and demanded by
all thoughtful citizens, Mr.. Greeley con-
tends that the desire and hope of the
President to secure a reelection, and
his efforts to that end, etfectually
prevent the reform. Civil service reform
means the selection of the fittest man
for office, instead of the most effective
or noisy politicians Of the dominant
party. The fruits of the present system
are widespread incapacity, inetfciency,
dishonesty, and peculatlon. Postmas-
ter not to be too exacting, ought to
know how to read, which some do, while
others do not. All will admit that such
ability is desirable in his vocation, but
If one who lacks it is the most efficient
partisan, and has done the most toward
the Presidents election, his claims can
not well be overborne. VIII not his
services be wanted four years hence :?
And how are they to be retained if his
claims are postponed to those of one
who can read but has no skill in maipu-
lating voters or votes ? Mr.. Greeley
asks: How much better is this than
the absurdity Of hereditary legislature ?
If our Federal and local functionarieS
were chosen by lot, would they average
worse than they now do? That The
King can do no wrong if taken literally,
is irrational. If understood to mean
only that he is elevated above all
temptation to misrule; that his doing
wrong would argue moral if not mental
insanity, and that he cannot be pre-
sumed to have acted within his preroga.
tive under the sway Of any unworthy
motive, then the maxim becomes in
telligible The justification of royalty
is it's alleged tendency to place the chief
ruler of nation above all temptation
to regard and pursue his own interest
at the expense of the public veal"
Mr.. Greeley then discusses the ques-
ton historical -the growth of the
patronage of the President. the efforts
to restrict the President to one term by
proposed constitutional amendment the
selfish reasons for the defeat of these
latter and the rapid accumulation of
the evils growing out OF the power OF
patronage, and the temptation Of the
President to use that patronage for his
reelection. Mr.. Greeley concludes his
historical argument thus:
"The Wings, in due time, took up
the oneterm principle, and Mr.. Clay
expressly gave in his powerful support.
He failed to achieve the Presidency, and
did not succeed in ENGRAVING that prin-
ciple on the Federal Constitution. But
Mr. Van Buren,, who was first chosen in
1886, by decided majority, was left in
a meagre minority at the close of his
canvass for a second term. He tried
again in 1914, and was badly beaten in
the National Convention of his party
by James X. Polk, of Tennessee, who,
though then elected, declined even to
seek second term. General Taylor, who
year of his term, and Millard Fillmore
who being Vice President, succeeded
him, was beaten by General Scott in the
Wing National Convention of 1852
General Franklin Pierce, whom the
Democrats then elected. tried to be re-
nominated in 1856, but was beaten in
the Convention by James Buchanan,
who did not seek denomination, know
ing well that such quest would be vain.
Mr.. Lincoln, who was then chosen by
the Republicans, was reelected by them
in 1864, the civil war was then in pro-
gress impelling many to support him in
Difference to the saw that discourages
the swapping of horses while in the act
of crossing raging torrent. Mr. Lin
coin thus constitutes the sole exception
to the failure of so many efforts to re-
elect a President since 1882. Meantime,
those efforts have undoubtedly cost
some signal defeats To either party. Had
Mr.. Van Buren, gracefully retired at the
close Of his first term, his party might
very probably have avoided its stunning
defeat in 1910. Had Mr.. Fillmore done
likewise in 1852, the Wing party might
have been defeated, but could n It have
been crushed by its defeat in the tri-
umph of Pierce that year. Time and
again since the Federal disaster of 1900
has first one and then the other party
run or tried to run President for a
second term. For quarter of century
these efforts proved successful. OF late
they have very generally proved disas-
trous. "Can We not discern the signs
of the times?" That the change has
been real, and based neither upon per-
sonal nor partisan considerations, is
evinced by the gradual adoption of the
contested principle in other yet kinder
spheres. Witness the post of Governor,
which was formerly filled, in nearly or
quite every State, without restriction on
his head, whereas, at this time, in the
States of New jersey, Virginia, Georgia,
Indiana, Illinois, South Carolina, and
Kentucky, Governor is not eligible to
to reelection while in the office or for
the term succeeding that for which he
was elected. In Arkansas. Texas, and
Oregon he may serve but eight years
out OF any twelve. In Main, North
Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. he
may serve but four years out of any six
In Pennsylvania, six years out of any
nine. In Tennessee, six years out of
any eight. The intent in each case
however imperfectly developed is to
check if not overbear the tendency to
use patronage for the indefinite per-