The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-04

''Ihe execution OF the once or the Chief Magistrate
with circumstance which, to an admiring world,
requires no commentary. A native citizen OF the
station, has not, during SO long term. appointed
single relation to any ONCE OF honor or em0lu-
M l BY %sS MesS an
something trust, the American people will do at
the coming election to secure this beautiful praise
yet again for our country.
GIFT TAKING.
Like nepotisn the taking OF gifts by public ser
want Is condemned by history. No honest nature
Thomas. SO admirable in character. rebuke this
abuse when ne replied to an offer Of 500, 0oo as
sSa II go tG my not form
been recognized nom the Bible down to our day.
According to the latter it is destructive-"The king
ceiveth gifts Overthroweth it." proverbs, chap.
xxx, Y. ~ Here again IS the example OF wash
way eaen wo would not
relation would not take gift even when out OF
Office. His example was In harmony with the les
son OF colonial days. AS long ago as April Co. 1903,
Queen Anne, In communication to Lord Combury,
Governor Of New Jersey, laid down the following
ernor, Commandments Chief or President Of the
Council 'd0 receive any gift or present from the
oe Sm Of %r
ure and being recalled from your government" This
rule is as good for our day as for that In which 1t
was ordained by royal authority.
There Is another Instance which should not be
forgotten 1t is that OF Lord Wellesley, the accom-
SO common as that OF Smiles on "SelfHelp" re-
CORDS that, while Governor OF India, he positively
the East India Company on the conquest Of Mysore,
and here the terms OF his refusal are impOi tant
ut Is not necessary for me to allude to the indie
pendence OF my character and the proper dignity
attaching to my ofiee other reasons besides these
important considerations lead me to decline this
testimony which Is not suitable to me. think Of
nothing but the army. should be much distressed
to curtail the share Of those brave soldiers" His
refusal remained unalterabe. At later period,
wi 10 " NJ
debts and entirely withdrawn nom public life, he
allowed the company to vote him much smaller
sum In consider alton of his signal services.
GIFT-MAKERs APPOINTED TO OFFICE.
The allowances voted by Parliament to Mari
borough and Wellington on account Of their vic.
gifts from feiiowcitizens. The distinction il clear
But the case against the present incumbent is not
only that, while holding high office he accepted
gifts from feOw-citizens, but subsequently ap-
pointed the gift-makers to office, thus using the
Presidency to pay of his own personal OBLIGATIONS
attempts to defend the taking OF gifts let him know
that he must 90 still further and show that the
to be employed for the private advantage Of the in.
cumbent.
ST. DOMINGO
Mr.. Sumner next treats in detail Of the st. Do
minCo business and to his own opposition to the
administration scheme. He refutes the stories that
have been circulated as to the motives OF has &C
ton, and In reply to the insinuatiOn that he OPP
posed the treaty because Mr.. Motley was uncere-
moniously removed from the mission at London,
lowing the rejection of the St. Domingo treaty, and
says:1"Eyidently my opposition was not indu;
BY my opp s Mr. Sumner mt then core nues as
follows:{ am now brought to those two chief
measures to be advanced by the election Of Horace
ing directly to purity and efficiency in the govern
ment and the other to the peace and welfare Of our
country.
The principle OF one term for President Is the
cornerstone OF reformed civil service So plain
to % pnT n am %
reform can fail to insist upon this priHcple. All
experience shows that the employment Of the ap-
pointing power to promote the personal ends OF the
President is the great disturbing influence in our
civil service. Here is the comprehensive abuse
which envelops all the Offices Of the country, making
them tributary to one man and subordinate to his
desires Let this be changed and you have the first
stage OF reform WHOM fn wncn a Gsner %
to recommend, as Is done by the Commissioners on
Civil Service ian honest competitive examination"
ton OF President seeking reelection "Lead us
not into temptation" part OF the brief prayer we
the necessity Of this prayer The misuse Of the ap
pointing power to advance ambitious aims is a
temptation to which President must not be ex-
posed. For his sake and the sake OF the country
this must not be.
In attributing peru to this influence speak not
only from my own careful observation, but from
the testimony of Others whose words are authOrl-
tative. You do not forget how Andrew Jackson
term was required in order to place the President
'beyOnd the reach Of any improper influence and
uncOmmitted to any other course than the strict
Harrison announced that with the adoption Of this
principle 1.-THE incumbent would devote all his time
to msrule the country" how Henry Clay was
satisfied, after much observation and rejection,
"that too much of the time, the thoughts and the
eXertiOns OF the incumbent are occupied during
the first term ia securing his re-electOn;" and how
my Senatorial associate for many years, BENJAMIN
F. Wade, after denOuncing the re-egibility OF the
President, said :-"There defects In the constt.
tuition, and these are among the most glaring."
biity Of the President is not only defect in tie
constitution, but one OF the most glaring
And such also was the declared opinion Of the
temptation OF q second term. 1t has been stated by
one who conferred with him at the time that imme-
in the spirit Of Andrew Jackson 1.-THE liberties OF
the country cannot be maintained without one
other writes me that while on walk between the
White House and the Treasury just at the head Of
sa ahe re
dent to single term and Of aboshing the office Of
Vice President" by the authority OF this declare
lcan party at Washington proclaimed OF It's Presl.
Dental candidates: die Is, moreover, in favor Of
proper administration Of the law" ana then at a
later date, after calling for the adoption OF this
in sa
time, while the canvass was proceeding, he allowed
himself to be commended as supporter Of this
1nut uc suouu INV ulSIeSuIu III gives
temptatiOn.n -
Look for moment at this machinery, or, II you
please, at this political hierarchy, beginning with
Cabinet officers and reaching to the pettiest post
master, every one digent to the single end Of
serving Presidential aspiration. The Jenersonan
rule was as he honestSn ais he capable ~ as
he faithful to the constitution ?" But this is lost In
the mightier law ais he faithful to reelection ?"
This failing, all merit fails. Every oflce-hoder,
from highest to lowest, according to his influence,
becomes propagandist, fugleman, whipper-in. Men,
bers OF the Cabinet set the example, and perambu-
late the country instructng the people to vote for
reelection. Heads Of bureaus do likewise. Then
In their respective localities officers OF the customs,
officers of the internal revenue, marshals, with
their deputies and pOstmasters, each and all
inspired from the national capital, are all
calling for reelection. This organized
power, variously estimated at from sixty to eighty
Thousand In number, all paid by the government
and overspreading the whole country In one minute
lhnn l,Ic