, 1877-08-26

possession Of mind.
"LEssoNs OF A CENTURY"
In TIE TRIBUNE Of Sunday last some no
tice was extended to little pamphlet with
the above title, the author of which had
yentured to predict the downfall Of the Re-
public. He now writes again on the subject,
and takes the singular ground that the dig
nifty Of his work has been lowered by the
treatment it received. It would be a serious
task to lower the dignity Of the pamphlet in
question, and TEE TRIBUNE will not enter
upon so 1aborious and doubtful an undertak-
ing Merely to preserve the amenities Of de-
bate, however, and to close the discussion in
fitting manner, it seems worth the while to
notice the new points rnised by the author.
He is captivated with the Government of
Switzerland, hose successes" he says,
shave been singu1arly ignored by our En-
glish PRESS" On the contrary, We believe,
the indifference of the English press to the
experience of Switzerland is not " singular"
The conditions which are present in the
political problem there are not the same
as those which the statesmen of
England and the United States are
required to meet. Switzerland has an
area Of $4,000 square miles and popu-
lation of 2.60o,oo0. She makes pretty
watches and exhibits magnificent scenery
and these arc her principal industries. The
government Of so small territory, occu-
pied by such people and for. such purposes,
is comparatively a simple affair. It does not
follow that the system which is adapted to a
State OF $4,000 square miles will be
eficacions in State which embraces
5000, 900 square miles, or TINT 44,o0o, 600
souls can be putt in the same leading strings
Us two millions and half.
The author of Is Lessons Of q Century"
clingB with q blind and unreasoning affec-
ton to his plan for the abolition Of the
Presidency. He traces the spoils system to
its source in the appointing power, and
makes the Office Of the Presidency rcspon-
sible for the evils of our corrupted Civil
Service. Here also the attempt is made to
draw parallel between the Government of
Switzerland and that Of the United States.
We hive already shown that the cir
cumstanccs will not admit Of reason
ing from analogy, inasmuch as the
analogy in this case does not
exist. Besides, Switzerland is not With
cut IN executive head. Its B1ndesrath an
swers as nearly as cnn be to our American
Cabinet, and the President of the Bundles
rath is, for the period of one year, the Presi-
dent Of the Republic. It is truo that in
Switzerland the Executive is elected by the
Legislature, but it is none the less an ex-
ecutire power. It is hedged about with re-
strictions, because Switzerland is small
colony, and might easily be swallowed by
big man. The United States do not need
similar restrictions, because they are too e1-
tended and too diversified in climate, people,
interests, aud traditions ever to agree upon
one man for permanent ruler So long as
a country has people, and laws, and IN es-
tablished government, it must have an Ex-
ecutive. Let the Executive be called Presi-
dent, King, Gear, Emperor, or Chioftain, his
functions must be essentially the same No
Legislature can constitute itself into an ex-
ecnti7e and successfully discharge the duties
Of the office for any length of time; for ex-
perience has shown that men instinctiyely
choose leaders, and submit to their ru1o,
When they do not, state of affairs exists
which we call anarchy; when they do, and
the atfair is one OF administration, they viz
tualy appoint an Executive.
An excellent illustration of the evils fol-
lowing confusion Of the executive and the
Legislative functions is offered at our own
doors. The Board Of Commissioners for
Cook County is almost o perfect realization
of the dream which the author of tLessons
Of Century" has enjoyed This Board is
elected BY the people, aud is supposed to !.
represent the will Of tho people Of the
county. Its permanenco is insured by
provision that one-third of the members
shall go out at time. There are conse-
quently always in the Board number of
seasoned members, number ha1f-bakcd,
and number green. Irony is weapon that
our author is not familiar with, or we should
soy that this is t'a simple md beautiful "
scheme Of government. The people have
not, however, given it the widest npproba-
ton It has encouraged the practice Of
addition, division, and silence to an alarm-