The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-18

cies of future generations, without
change or modification, was beyond the
scope of human wisdom; for it is not
gwen to man to see the end from the be.
ginning. Consequently, while we may
admire and revere the wisdom of the
Fathers of our Constitution, we are
Iequally required to admit that the social
changes incident to century Of unpar-
Ialleled advancement have given rise to
the necessity tor governmental moditi-
cations corresponding to these changed
conditions of our civil society. To as
sert this is no disrespect to the found
ers OF our Government. To assert the
contrary would be to affirm that the
American people are not progressive.
The great political conflict of this
present Centennial year, the echoes OF
which are even yet painfully reverber-
ating upon the public ear, has been
demonstrative of the urgent needs OF
constitutional reform. We do not here
speak of reform as in any party sense,
but in primary, fundamental sense; in
the sense that implies revision and
readjustment OF constitutional provis-
| ions to meet the newborn eXigencies
incident to the changed conditions OF
our community and our commonwealth.
In all our toregone history there has
been no such strange concurrence Of
political events as the present pc
riod exhibits. Possibly nothing
like it may be witnessed in our
future history. And yet this extraordi-
nary conjuncture of affairs has none the
less Yividly portrayed the perils that
may beset our political system, and has
sternly pointed to the prudence that
should now provide for their future re-
currence. 1t is by the glaring light OF
the lightning flash struck out by these
party collisions that many men Of dis
learned in the law of our political sys-
TEN, have for the first time perceived
the looseness and weakness OF our Con-
stitutional provisions bearing upon is
Under ordinary circumstances these in
) firmities in our fundamental law might
| have gone unperceived; but the very
vividness Of the light under which they
are now placed reveals their iusufi-
cheney to degree that is painfully
startling.
In addition to these matters of detail,
needed tor guidance upon the happen
ing of contingencies like the present,
there are other subjects of more fun
damental character that demand speedy
and careful consideration in the reVis-
ion of her constitutional law. One of
these is as to the eligibility of the Presi-
dent to successive terms of office. And
another is, as to the term OF the office
itself. The limitation, by Constitutional
provision, OF the incumbency of the
Presidential office to single term is no
new proposition. 1t is, indeed, almost
coeVal with the Constitution itself.
During the past halt-century it has
been repeatedly and urgently pressed
upon the public mind. Its advocacy has
been confined to no party, and has been,
from time to time, sentiment common
to all. The argument that every posi-
BILE inducement should be removed that
might even tend to sway executive ad.
ministration from the course of recti-
tude and righteousness, whether from
the promptings of present power or the
allurements OF ambition, has been every
where accepted by the common sense OF
men as sufficient TO warrant the limita-
tion Of the Presidency to q single term
in the same prison. The deductions
from that argument are too obvious to
require amplitication.
While thus restricting the Presidential
term as to the person, it would be we'll
to consider whether it should not be ex-
tended as to the time. The present
years upheavaf Of public sentiment, its
waste of the nations time, its waste OF
the peoples means and money, its
promptings to debauchery and impro-
prieties in personal habits, Its tendency
to the corruption Of public morals, its
impulses to gambling and political de-
moraIization, its invitations to personal
detraction, calumuy and vituperation,
It's stirring up of personal animosities
and bitterness of feeling and sectional
hostility, all combine to warn good citi-
zens and wise statesmen against a
too frequent repetition of such
seasons of intense disquietude
and public commotion. The
brief period of four years scarcely suf-
fees tor the subsistence of these political
excesses and party excitement; and
then begins renewal of like disorder.
Business interests, always sensitive to
the influence !ot such a state Of Iurbu-
lence and unrest in the public min
suffer serious injury more or less per-
manent. Might not all these evils be
measurably avoided by extending the
time of the Presidential term to six
years? We must remember that it is
the public good, not party interests nor
personal preferment, that is to be sub
served by Presidential elections. And
if steadiness and stability to the busi-
ness interests Of the country are pro-
saNA1