The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-14
Power and Political Position and Pre-
cepts of the Friends of
the President.
How Public Elections Are Conducted in
the United States.
John Bull" Tickled and Disguised at the
Reports of Presidential Contests.
The Good Which May Be Effected by q
Change and the Adoption of a ''Simple''
Plan of National ssRefOrm.,,'
TELEGRAM TO THE new YORK HERALD.

TELEGRAM TO the new YORK HERALD.
The following special despatch to the
HERALD has been received from our CORE
spondent in the British metropolis -
LONDON, Sept. IS, 1873
The London Times in its issue to-day treats
the subject Of Cmsarism in America editorially,
using the argument that change in the
Presidency Of the United States would be
great reform, and ought to be welcome to the
people, if possible, as means of effecting the
extinction in America of q system of constant
reelection. of the Executive and it's attendant
evils, inasmuch as the present plan fails to
secure to the community the benefits which
were expected from it, OF involves the pres
ence of evils greater than these which it was
framed to prevent.
The writer goes on to say:-"We cannot be
surprised that time should come when
George Washington's example in refusing
three Presidential terms should be called in
question, and when the people of the United
States may be asked to express, by third
vote, exceptional confidence in General Grant.
Il appears from our American correspondence
special letter that General Grant is not un-
willing, and that his friends, who are eager
hsc
sonal claims to the honor, are considerable
both in number and influence. To him be-
longs the credit of having cut down the late
rebellion against the Union, and the man who
has thus saved the country will be taken by
many Americans to be presumably the fttest
person to govern it There can be no doubt
that the election of President Grant to
third term of Office may have important con-
sequences; consequences not intended by
those who have suggested it. third Pres
idential term may be followed by fourth,
and the lease Of power may be again renewed
until it is terminated only by the failing health
or the termination Of the life of the holder of
the Office. 1t may well come in this way to be
an understood thing that the American Presi-
dent shall be elected for life, and that his
reelection, taken at the end of each four years
of the period, will be merely nominal, or, at
most, used as safeguard against the perpe-
tration of any scandalous abuse of power. It
would be great and important change, if
this we're to occur; one that would not fail
to largely influence the general state of
politics in America. There are many ways
in which it might appear desirable. The rule
which has been hitherto followed has, certainly,
: not worked so well that there would seem to be
no room for improvement Elections, without
limit in number, from the conduct of which
the better portion of Society is excluded, are
not 80 great public good in themselves that
we should wish them to be preserved in the
spirit as in the letter of the wishes Of their
founders. We may dismiss the notion that
edespotism would be likely to result from a
perpetual reelection of the American Pres
ident although this was real terror to the
minds of the Revolutionary heroes who had
just emancipated themselves from the rule of
king The only question would be whether
the new custom of Presidential tenure would
tend in any degree to cure the evils of the old;
whether the process of election would be
purer when the ultimate prize would be greater
and better worth contending for. With all
these weapons Of argument all must de.
pend upon the manner in which any change.
in the present system is worked. 1t may in
crease the existing corruption, so far as such
o change in the American Presidential cleo
ton system is possible 1t may, and we be-
lieve it more likely would, be beneficial, both
in its immediate and more remote conse-
quences. It would be likely to secure to the
people of the United States the services of
better men and to render the process of their
appointment to Office less degrading to them
selves and oil concerned in it The details of