The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-16
HOW TO GET RID OF CESAR.
AN ORIGINAL PLAN PROPOSED. BY A CORE.


1t IS supposed thar majority vote OF the people,
fairy taken by permission of the existing govern
ment Is sufficient OF Itself ana without any further
ceremony 10 establish new fundamental law for
the State. morning Journal OF January % maAes
thereon the following observation I'll would like,
At least. to delay the hour when It shall be recog
nlzcd SIS established precedent and undoubted
sound political theory ia New YORK that a partisan
Legislature, In time OF high excitement. may
frame new constitution. and, obtaining for 1t
under the influence OF some temporary popular
frenzy partisan vote OF approval, may subveit
the fundamental law OF the State, say in thirty
days time" Without questioning the position
stared or attempting TO relute any of the areu-
ments offered in It's support, the Journals CORE.
spondent deprecates IT'S acceptance. In
Tree. representative democracy, based upon
universal suffrage, sucn as our Repuo-
lie ts, nothing can be gaaed by sup
pressing great elementary truths Ir is Gear
that all important principles which cannot be
gansaid should be known and acknowledged.
The people are supreme, and as no single member
Of The State can justly be restrained ron exer-
rsing his individual rights or unnecessarily IN
peded or delayed therein, so should tae entire
body be ever tree TO exercise at any and at every
Instant their corporate authority BY what arti-
tee shall the letters be forged which can Restrain
Or even Tor an hour delay theme surely no power
the fixed laws OF nature. Nor is there any rea-
sopebe ground for desiring such restraint. The
writer above referred to has not, IN tact. ex
pressed any such desire. The words OF his depre-
ca,ory sentence above quoted, and ly me itali-
lcised indicate that the subject OF MS Tears Is not
the people, but parry. In mat apprehension many
may agree with him, and If means cannot be folnd
70 exricate the people from their present bondage
party there is some reason TO think that the Re-
puDnc Of Washington might as WELL like that or
Anclent Rome, yield to ITS iate hail its ''impe-
ratoru at once and accept a tranquil bondage.
But OF this more anon. First. however. let US see
whether, IN iact the peo2l can peacefully change
their existing institutions at any moment or, as
the writer expresses IL, "say in thirty days." Ger
ralnly the time named by him Is sufficient for the
enactment and publication Of a State law and
holding an election. Indeed, since the discovery
OF the magnetic telegraph and It's establishment
throughout our country, one-third OF that time.
perhaps less would sufllce. An emergency might
be conceived which would justify the utmost prac-
tclbe speed. Nor is this legal and ply slcal po-
tentiality confined 10 the States. AS lar
speed concerned 1t exists, to
greater extent, in reference to the power
or amendment or alteration provided for IN
the bond or our federal Union. A resolution
adopted without the Presidents approval by two.
thirds Of both houses at Washington might be rat.
lfed en- the same cay In three-fourtns Oh the State
legislatures and 90 fnstdnti become valid TO all
intents and purposes as part OF the" federal soon
stltution." Not single feature in that great In
strument is exempt from being thus summary
changed save the requisite OF eacn States equal
suffrage in the Senate" Constitution OF the
United States, article 81 To be sure this could
not have been so promptly effected In the state OF
progress existing when the original instrument
Vas adopted. But throughout The most Of every
winter It is now practicable. The magnetic te!e-
,raph has abolishei every imPed ment Congress
nd all or nearly al the state legislatures
sualy IN session the same time. and any OF the
after thai may not be sitting can readily be con.
'ened. The only difficulty Is In tue requisite OF
approximatng so iosely to unanmty. Whenever
need OF sufficieut gravity shall arise this
concord may be attalnaole. When no such neces-
sly exists tho facility should not be desired. l.
true that facio Is likely ever TO possess SO
much power Tor the attainment of It's own malign
purposes, and most happily Is this so. but in
dlgnant people may safely be trusted with II, for
.'al experience has shown that mankind are more
disposed to suffer while evils endurable than
to. right themselves ty aboisalng the forms to
which they are accustomed"
SO little morality is there in party that civil
war, the greatest OF all caiamites being engen-
dered by 1t, OF the rival factions could without
scrup!e PICK up. as 1t were in the highway,
tpsy member OF the other, empurple him to
conspicuousness by carnage then adopt HIM
their chief, endow him WITH the powers OF a Caesar,
and look on with satisfaction while lie tramples IN
the dust law, peace, order AID the most sacred
rights Of his countrymen. Bat, aside from the
wirepulers OF faction. the people do not approve
suco things and will not submit TO them.
Inc intensely battered but most unfortunate
man wRo Is placed In this attitude Is o. course
unaware that in himself are totally wanting the
qualifications Tor his rtulousy acquired station
hitherto deemed Indispensable he could not be
without them IL ne had the sense to comprehend
their utility. Consequently your friendly per-
suasves TO a resignation must fan, and as an I'M
peacnment could only come from the adverse
party 1t would estate resistance Dy his orig.
inal supporters, VINO still retain ample power TO
save him. What, then. is to De doneS
The party that took him up and elected him Is
being ruined by MN. OF this It's members are
generally conscious but 1t does not seem within
the compass OF their limited uity TO devise a
remedy. will state one; not out of friendship to
the republican leade 8, for admire them as little
as do their opponents. but as q tender OF relief
TO the endangered Republic.
Grant means 10 hold On. He recognizes no In
strumen tality but lorce; and on this he rehcs as
the agency by which his power is to be retained,
not only ut the end OF his second term, but at the
end oil the third. And unless there can be put In
motion a means Of dsplacing him peacefully more
elective than any yet suggested he Will remain
IN power Tor life. Assuming that the republican
leaders would ike to get md or him If they could
40 50 without surrendering 10 their enemies,
viii state my plant
Let a suitable amendment to the federal constl.
uiion be prepared by the republicans, passed by
The present Congress and submitted to the State
legislatures. WI notifications In details to SUIT
tastes. ancies or opinions, 1t might be substan.
italy as lolows:-
Frst-Hereaiter the President OF the United
states shall hold bis ONCE during the term OF
seven years. and, together with the Vice President
chosen the same term, shall DO elected az lol.
lows:-
on the lst day OF November 1875. and on that
day In each seventh year thereafter, the cleo