New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-25
ONE TERN.

me " Tshn1NOn tHTONNb piIH0' III
silence Mr.. Summers proposal that the Federal
Constitution shall be 30 amended that no
President SHALL after 1878, DO eligible 10 re-
election. That journal was not won't 10 DC 80
rcticent. Four years have not yet passed since
it demonstrated earnestly, persistentiy. IN
favor of One Presidential Term. Witness the
following leader from its issue OF June 8. 1905:
"ONLY ONE TERM.
"a dnicult question to settle WAS the term OF the
Dental effce In the Convention OF ISo. NVer"' Pr"""'
mont membcrs oha eed sides upon 1t durgfhf "'S~D
Many OF the views those who desired thr Pre'heh 70
BE- eligible to reflection have not been rcazc" "' u
the objections urged against eligibility have been rem
lied It's dangerous effect upon executive oinc"r5 anu
Tho administration OF the Government observed anu
commented on by DO Tocqueve in 1895. and. In ID"
Democracy in America. no pronounced IL tne inc"Ia
bio disease. sapping tho vitas OF our R'puoilo i'
sad with sadness and too much truth that the personal
interests Of tho President became superior to his sense OF
official duty. and that everything was subordinate 70
tlsm He wondered how the architects OF the Fea"ra
system who had managed to preserve 10 far balance
OF power through tho organization OF the three depart
mcnts Of the Government should nave oceh oio,F
sighted enough to render their whole Work ihSec" p9
making the Pre- stdent eligible to reelection Ne "ou
der too for It has inconestaby done more 70 Destroy
the balance and weaken our INSTITUTIONS
than any other inherent defect Of system or perhaps
all otbers combined. From the first 1t has induced
Executive activity not in the administrative duty AZ
signed 10 the Office OF President by the ConStution
but in leading legislation, In indicating anu
forcing tho informal and external pohoy
Of the Government. From tho very neg'hh'"s'
we have been trouble with what we're called Alumni
stration moasnres Presidents have constantly gone
beyond the modest but alsuicieDt limits prescribed
for them in the Constitution, OF giving Congress
ton OF the state of the Union and W 'nc
consideration suchneasures they shall Judge necessa
nv and xpedent and have resorted ITO all the pressure
which the and patronage OF the
has placed in hands The result has been ngh'
,vno ~ the Presidential office the center Of all honor
and aud consequent decrease OF respect Tor the
other branches Of Government
eve are glad TO perceive that Gen Grant, the Repub-
lican nominee for the Presidency has 10 hncc1hcuy
stated hs views Of the Office which he Is destined 70 NIL
He regards it as purely administrative once, ana
,ays he will have no policy Of ms oicn 10 ENFORCE
aoainst the peopies ,oU This Is constitutional view
OF tho Presidential Office and which In its practical
influence fail tn secure harmonious cooperation
between the different departments or the GoVerhtn'
and peacc 10 the country We most heartily echo the
I'm the last line OF our candidate c'
ter net US hare ptace To obtain this 1t is OF the hr't
import,ncc that tho President should be satisfied with
the duty assigned him by the Constitution
that of administering the laws not making thein nor
sitting IN Judgment upon thom He has nehher "g''a
tive nor judicial powers aud when he attempts to sub
.tutc prOcamatOns for the authority or law a. Ahurc"
johnson did in his restoration policy or TO substitute MS
opinion place ne did in the of Mr. Stan
tom the President trenches upon tho powers granted
to other departments There fsd constant temptation" 10
do his long President may be resierfed lie de-
sires to be popular and attain the credit for oil
tho enacted during his term which suit the
popular taste. Hence the constant interference OF the
Executive In tho legislation of Congress and his efforts
TO enforce policy OF his What the country needs
for pacifcation is q President Without policy Such
ons .oe shall hare IN Grant He IS. naoreorer
allocate Of the One Term principle, as conducting
toward tho proper administration OF the law - a
principle with which many prominent Republicans
have identified themselves that 1t may be accepted as an
article of party faith Senators Wade and Sumner have
each amendments tho Constitution pending before the
Senate restricting the Presidency to single term and
on Saturday last the Hon. James NJ. Ashley Of Ohio in
troduccd two amendments to the Constitution into the
House Of for the same purpose aud with
the further view Of clcctng the President by direct
vote of the people, abolishing the office of VicePres
dent and providing more satisfactory method OF gen
era election.
"Thcse amendments he sustains In elaborate arg
ueut Indicating thorough research and perfect
OF his subject. There time in our history when
regulations for established by able
an clucidstion OF tho results to flow from Of
such Importance. Many Of his views will be novel and
striking to those who have not reflected upon the subject
but they are evidently drawn from tho resource OF a
large experience In the practical workings Of existing
governmental machinery"
Will The Chronicle be good enough to tell
US what it thinks of the above doctrine nor?
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