, 1876-11-13

vianB fought with half tho skill md courage
Of tho Montenegrius, they would have been
FREQ long before this.
FREQUENCY OF ELECTION ExC1TEMEETs
Wo havo no doubt there will be general
acceptance Of tho suggestion TINT our eloc-
tions for President aro altogether too fro
quont. Once in four yoars Is too ofton
for suoh general upheaval Of tho col,1a-
try nnh tho universal excitement intend
mt thereon. There Is no stability in tho
Executive Department. Tie first two yearH
Of new Executive are occupied In tho d.
tribution Of patronage and III prepari"- <or
legislation; the next two years mr. I>ent III
preparing for the succession. 7 Tar before
tho Presidents torn is ov~'< no Inns boon
either set aside by his ov~ party or is can-
didato for reelection, md, in other caso, has
oeascd to control his own party and the gen-
eral public. This is not by any means now
question. It has boon discussed for many
years. As long ago as in JAoKHoN's tor1n it
was pressed, and, while popular with tho peo-
pie, 1t las mover found favor with tho poll
ticians. Tho objection TO ono torn, and
that of sir yoars, Inns been TINT it reduces
tho chances of candidates to obtain that
Office. A mnn at GO years Of ago desiring
and expecting tho Presidency can afford to
whit for tho expiration Of but fow four-year
torms, and would have even less hope if tho
terms wero made ak years cach. An annual
election would not 10 too frequent for those
| people. The Government, however, wns
not instituted for of1icello1lers, but for tho
general welfare, and these frequent elections
arc injurious to the interests Of tho country
and destructive Of tho public morals.
Tho adoption Of constitutional provision
fixing ono term for the President, and that
term 10 DO Rix years, would give to tho Prosi-
donoy stability and independence to which
the Office is ROW stranger. The President
| is now nero office agent, "a mnn whose
business is not to select persons to ill office,
but to appoint the men to Office who havo
been selected by tho members OF Congress
Of his party. Unless tho President do this,
then the Sonata will rafuso to confirm tho
appointment OF any other persons, and tho
President will bo abandoned by his purity in
Congress. II, howover, the President have
no hopo for recollection, and hnve sir yoars Of
Office, ho can afford to bo independent, and
can appeal to tho people from Cougross at
tho ;ntermo,,ato elections. So strongly i'm.
n7osscd vas f3,,v. HAyrs on this snbioct. TINT
be frankly wrote his declaration that, If elect.
ed ha would not be a candidate for ro.elcc.
tion. Mr.. Tt1pEx, in his letter Of accept.
oncc. w,,i1e declining to moko INV " sclf.in,.
nose,l rcstr;otiona." decla.e, TINT tho ro-e,ec.
t,on NJ n 1,raa;1cnt ehou1d f,o rroh,h;tod l,v
oonatitutional proyisiou. 1Icro. thon, aro the
two candidates Mt tho rcccnt election both
toatifv;no to the fatal offeots of hayin9 mora
than onn torm for eacl, President.
| Tho country Inns inst passed through 4
most intenao and extraordinary excitonen,
over the choice OF prcsilont. For six s,,c
cessiye months 1t Inns cuprossod tho public
mind. It l,os led to all manner of excuses
II boa lad tn thu expenditure Of 1nillions ri
dollars to cor1,,pt and debauch tho uubli<
morals. It has flooded the country with |
torront of ca1nmnv. yituporation. and nor
inrv. It 1,aa 1oworod the standard of oftlcia
and neraonn1 nurily in nnblio estimntlon
The aot;ye compaion has boom Intended viii
moro or loss Drunkenness and personal OK
cessos, Young mon hayo become involyct
In tho whirl of party excitement. and lay,
49, ~ ,s,;a,. ,,,ov ,ro,,i;, o,,,.~u;so 1,av,
~ . I'LL 49,. -" 49,:
ueen setanscts' 1ie'a.n' a',a n'ono5. "'.s
ume. aao gooa Hosal8' naYo poen a0oelncea
IN Loss than two years tho subject OF To-