Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-05-20
THE ONE TERM PRINCIPLE.

menu was lhaue 10 uepenu upon noneoty,
capacity and fidelity alone, and not as
now, almost wholly upon the arbitrary
will of the President, no very serious
objection could be raised to the re-elec-
ton of one who had himself shown hon.
esty, capacity and fidelity in his Office.
In that case the reasons would seem to
be all in favor of reelection and
not one merely, but as many as you
please-upon the ground that it is
poor rule that will not work both ways.
The wisdom of 'rotation in office, as a
controlling policy, to which all other
conditions are made subservient, may
we'll be questioned. 1t is the favorite
battle cry of those out of power, and is
usually supported by no higher consid-
Grafton than desire for place and its
emoluments. 1t is a dogma born of
popular government, and when carried
too far, as is liable to be the case in Re-
publics which it must be conceded are
most thrifty nurseries of ambitions
sure to carry with it more of weakness
than of strength; more of mischief than
of the reform which it always promises;
and this, mainly, for the reason, that it
produces a system too prolific of politi-
clans, and too barren of statesmen.
But while public policy requires the
continuance in office of every public ser
want who has proved himself faithful
and capable, an exception must be made
of the President The reasons for this
are obvious. The whole civil service
covering every conceivable incident in
the administration of the government,
from the appointment of judge of the
supreme court, to that of postmaster
at the crossroads, is at his disposal.
This patronage is immense. 1t draws
from the Treasury annually, millions
of money, which it bestows upon its IA
vorites throughout every town and ham
let in our jurisdictions carrying with it
substituting influence alarming to con-
template.
1t at once, all insensibly it may be,
yet surely, lays the recipient under obi
cation to the President. It makes him
silent tho the President err. Itmakes him
swift to anticipate the Presidents wishes;
and, if they extend to thing so limo
cent as continuance in office, this crea-
ture of the President will, of course, give
him hearty support, for the very APP
parent reason that by continuing the
President in office, he will thus continue
himself in office. To be sure, the prob.
ability is small, that an unworthy Pres.
ident would be entailed upon the people
from this cause alone; nor would all
who thus received executive favor be in
fiuenced by it. Some do, and always
will, act Independently of every such
consideration. But the tendency is I'm.
wholesome. 1t is corrupting and the
only complete cure is the one term prin
ciple.
The one term principle, too, besides
being best for the country is the only
sound one for party success. The Dem
ocrats were conscious of this when they
dropped Franklin Pierce in 1856. ant
took James Buchanan. By that means
they kept the party together and won il
that campaign. Every one knew the,
could not elect Frank Pierce. Had tn,
Republican party adopted the one tern
principle and given it a place in tn
platform of 1868, as Charles Sumne
and some others counseled, we SHOULD
have avoided our present party trouble
and stood better before the country
Now we present the humiliating spec
tacle of great party-the party tina
washed the country of the stain of slav
cry and saved it from the hands of trai
tors-divided and quarreling anon
ourselves; not over some principle
but merely over the loaves and fishes
The early adoption of the one term prin
ciple would have saved this.
Sound public policy calls not only 70
one term, but for longer term. Ever
four years is too often-if the prosperit
of the country be consulted-to put he
through the agonies of Presidential
contest. Hardly is one administrator,
settled, before the campaign for anothe
IS opened. And what between State
Congressional and Presidential elections
the people are kept in continual fer
ment-ln state of political disquietud
and uncertainty. The Presidential yea1
however. is the one of the most absorb
ing and proftless excitement. Then
is that money is close that business en-
terprises halt and lull comes in tn,
industries of the country. That yea,
has come to be proverbial for stagnatio
in business-followed by loss of cor
tidence and by Encouragement on al
sides. Such is the result of each nation
al election; and who doubts, that
were better for the country, did thi
Presidential paroxysm recur less fire
quently. Who doubts that it were bette
for US as a people, did we attend les
to President making, and more to tn
development of our public and privat
resources more to those things whic
shall insure us quiet and prosperity ;
home, and give us dignity and cons
quence abroad. G..