American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-01-13

There is peculiar significance in Mr..
summers proposition for an amendment
20 the Constitution limiting u President to
one term of office. This is an age of Con
Ftltutional amendments, and we are in
clined to seek Il remedy for all evils in
Fundamental prohibitions or mandates.
We are disposed to meet every great peril
with an amendment to the Constitution
and it is a great peril, real or imagined,
that has prompted the Massachusetts, Sen
ator to offer the present one Why should
the one-term measure be revived just at
this time? What is the occasion that has
attracted fresh attention to it? What is
the peril that needs to be confronted with
such extraordinary legislation as this?
Mr. Sumner answers these very pertinent
questions, in language of unusual plain
ness and we therefore quote his own
words:
Il shall content myself with a brief remark. This
is an era of iviseryiCe REFORM and the President
of the United States, in his message, has already
called our attention to that important subject ana
made recommendation with reference to IT. IT.
may be remembered that hailed that message at
once as it was read from the desk, | forbore then
to state that missed one important recommends
tion-a very important recommendation with
out which all other recommendations | fear to be
futile missed a recommendation OF an amend
ment to the Constitution in conformity with the
mendatons of illustrious men, limiting persons
holding the office of President to one term. Sir,
that is the initial point of the civll-servlce reform
The scheme of the President is the play of Hamlet
without Hamlet | propose. by the amendment
that offer to see that Hamlet is brought into the
play" Laughter.
This language, coming from one of the
most eminent and influential Republicans
the land, and spoken against one who
is the Presidential head of the Repubi-
can party, and the self-nominated candi-
date for that party's support in the next
election, has a deep partisan and public
meaning The one term proposition is
aimed at President Grant, and at no one
else. 1t is true its operation is general
and is intended to last for all time but
the personal policy of President Grant is
the provocati0n that has called it forth at
this moment Had the Presidents adj
ministration been a reflection of the ideas
of the great representatives of the Repub
lican party-had the President taken
those eminent representatives into his
counsel, and placed the high departments
of government in their hands, Sumner,
SchurZ and Trumbull would not now be
the foes of the President, and this one
term proposition would not now be heard |.
Of But the President has seen fit to |.
estrangc the ablcSt men of the party that .
elected him, and to entrust the depart
ments to mediocrities who represent
neither the history nor the genius of the
party. His object in this would appear
to be the selection of department heads .
who are willing to be controlled, and .
have no ambition to control; and the
effect has been that selfasserting person .
alism in the administration which is its .
distinguishing trait, and which is grow |
ing so offensive that powerful element in
the party seems ready to resist it even at
the hazard of disrupting the party.
There is deep, shifting sarcasm in Mr.. /
Summers assertion that his proposition is .
intended to reform the civil service by
limiting the Presidential term. Did not
President Grant recommend n reform of the .
civil service in his last two messages?
And yet here is q proposition from Re
publican Senator which sternly assumes
not only that the President is the great OBJ .
stacle to civil-service reform, but that he .
is the active agent in civi-service corrup- |.
ton Mr. Sumner declares that a reform .
movement which does not propose to re. /
form the President is the play of Hamlet |
with the part of Hamlet omitted; in other .
words, that it is a mOClcrY and delusion. I
It will matter little that the Department F
clerks at Washington are reformed and .
made more efficient as long as the Presi- .
dent continues to remove faithful .
and capable public servants all over the .
country to make place for his personal .
kinsmcn and parisans, without any re-
gard to their fitness That is no reform
at all which seeks to purify the streams,
but leaves the fountain touched-which .
assumes to select department clerks by
competitive examination, but really leaves .
the choice Of some fifty thousand Federal .
officials to one who is a candidate for the .
next Presidency, and who appoints those .
only who are willing to labor for his NOM
ination and his election.
Senator summers proposition is, in
truth an arraignmcnt of the President,
and is the first bold, aggressive measure
that he has had to meet He will oppose
it, of course and so will his adhercnts;
but it will receive a thorough discussion,
for all that, and this discussion will do
world of good. 1t will place the Admin
istratiOn in an unenviable and indcfensi-
BILE position, disclose its weakness and
place the President at the mercy of an
opposition whose power is constantly in
Il