The New York herald., 1873-09-23

ted with its BREATH ana the crew, drunken with
It's poison, the good ship, with its freight of hopes
will sink benhath its Stygian pool 1t ID incredible
that General Grant should be persuaded or nat.
tered into launching upon voyage OF such deadly
peril to liberty, country and MS own iliustrlous
iame
THE MISTAKE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENT.
HERALD CoRREsPoNpENT-May not these consid-
erations be urged against the principle OF re-
eligibility in all casesf
Judge WEsT-In respect to ofrces dispensing
of1icial patronage to any considerable amount they
may, and for this reason the example OF Washing
h nas ~ tSe
nous voice OF his cOuntry's gratitude and affection,
without the agency or prostitution o. oIiclal pa,
tronage, its consequences In the struggles and
conflicts Of future ambitions could not have been
foreseen. Could he have anticipated the abuses
UsuRpATIoNs OF POLITICAL ExIGENCY
to the growth OF which his example has given rise
his patriotism would have shrunk from establish
Ing precedent unfortunate. by the constitu-
tion all official patronage was lodged with the
President, subject only to the negative and cor
recting power OF the Senate In session convened.
The theory was that the popular branch OF the Con-
gress should remain forever uncontamlnated and
wants and provide for the common welfare In
stead, however, the last half century has witnessed
the steady growth of the most impudent and
shameless usurpatiOns. successfully have Sena-
tors and Representatives. Of the party dominant
Tor the time seized upon and partitiOned the
patronage or the government as another Poland
until the usurpation has ripened into an asserted
right. For the promotion OF their own reelection
not the common weiare-it has been unscrupu-
lousy welded.
REVIVAL OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM.
so absolute is the usurpation that Representa-
tives have become the satraps oil their districts;
the local patronage thereof has become their patri-
mony; local appointees their henchmen and vas
sas no PATRIOTISM NO yre NO shond 9esGon 10
that does not present itself in the livery and wear
the collar OF the. petty district magnate 1t s
not enough to be OF the same political creed.
Neither the herO's scars nor the soldiers sacri-
ices, nor PATRIOTS services furnish q passport.
Attachment to the fortunes and household OF the
district despot Is Indispensable. The President
yields submission to his local rule on condition or
Ieary and service in promoting his reelection.
The heads OF departments retain place as the re-
ward OF their cringing servility. Representatives
are banded together TO support each other in this
petty tyranny, and call 1t
1.-THE CONGRESSIONAL RULE"
senators openly combine to aid each other and
also their Representatives by conhrmatlons or re.
demand. and call it "the Senatorial rule" In ali
this the President, looking TO his own reelection,
gressional vassalage and support and calls 1t
Executive complacency." To supplement this
is drawn from the National Treasury to furnish
the sinews OF political war In future caucuses and
conventions In the principle OF Executive re-elg-
bity Is the germ OF this corruption. In practice,
though hitherto limited to q second term, 1t has
quickened into alarming proportions.
THE GRAVE OF PUBLIC VIRTUE.
Public virtue cannot hope to survive its develop
ment when stimulated by the doubly intensified
animositcs, passions and jeaouses OF the struggle
for q third term. Until reeligibility, In which the
motive Tor prosttntlDg Executive patronage has its
germ, shall have been discarded, presidential as.
plratl0ns Tor the succession will continue to pur-
chase the featy OF Senators, bv permitting them to
dispense II In subsidiZing legislatures; OF Repre-
sentatves by suffering them to employ 1t In vassal-
ning districts and controlling primaries, caucuses
and conventions by their armies OF henchmen, re-
tainers and Janizarles; thus corrupting the very
fountains and original sources OF political power
and poisoning the system from heart to
extremity. lhe statesman or journalist that
shall succeed In arouslng pubic az
tention 10 a sense OF this great decentralization,
ana shall revoluiiOnlze and break up the practice
OF satrapizing states and districts by allowing
senators and Representatives to dictate and con-
troll Its distribution with u view to securing their
own ana the Presidents succession, VIII achieve
for tue Republic beneiaction no less deserving of
immortal gratitude than he who founded II.
THE DANGERS or AMBITION.
HERALD tOkRESfONDENT-Are you or opinion
that n General Grant should strike FOR third term
he would hesitate 10 create an eNigency In public
affairs necessary to secure his re-electiouS
Judge WEsr-Ihc comprising OF success IL the
instinct OF ambition. anu 40 not suppose that the
ambition OF General Grant, II capable OF as.
piring to the succession. would prove an
j should expect IL 10 be with
resolved purpose To make the blow
efectual. He cannot AFFORD to and would not
brook defeat lie cannot now, at the close OF
career So brilliant and illustrious afford to have
his sun set behind cloud OF discomnture-amld
the lears and exultation OF opposing triumphs. lf
lac moves II Will be To carry his works by whatever
means are adequate. But shall not suppose him
capable OF being 80 rasnly Influenced by the para
sites anu natterers VINO hang upon his skirts. The
past career. lie Will not precipitate his party or
country into so rretricvable gulf
After some further general conversation on the
Interesting topic the Interview ended.