The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-05

| the Executive Department. The mode OF
| election, the length of the Presidential
term, the re-eligiblity Of the incumbent
and the relation between the heads of de-
partments and Congress are the points
which require revision. OF these four the
method of electing the President and ascer-
tanning the result is the one which has re-
Gently engaged most attention, and there Is
widespread regret among patriotlc men
that an amendment was not matured
at the late session. This neglect
is partly owing to the death Of Sen
ator Morton, who had given more study
to the subject than any other statesman
who was more deeply impressed with Its
importance and had the ability and per-
sistence to force the question to vote, at
least in the Senate. Mr.. Morton perceived
what everybody now admits, that the Elec-
toraI Commission was makeshift which
could never be repeated, and he felt The
solicitude of patriot as to the conse-
quences of another disputed election.
While we share the general regret that Sen
ator Morton did not live to press this
needed reform and that it loses the great
advantage OF his vigor and zeal, we are not
sorry that nothing was done at the late ses-
sion.
If Congress had submitted to the States
an amendment Of the article relating 10 the
Executive Department it would have in
cluded but one of the four necessary reforms.
The evils of the present system OF electing
and counting in our Presidents have been
so deeply impressed upon the public mind
by the heated and perilous controversy
which preceded MIR. Hayes installation,
and which still survives in the Potter in
vestgation, that the country is in danger of
acting like a stupid pugilist, who claps
his hand on the spot where he has been hit
instead of warding of the coming blow OF
his antagonist. We are, therefore, recon-
cled to little interval until the pain of
the recent blow subsidies before vigorous
effort is made to amend the Executive
article Of the constitution. 1t is
SO difficult to secure any amendment
and so inexpedient to be always tinkering
the fundam entail law, that all the needed
reforms should be joined together and Sc
iect comes to be dealt with the needed
changes in the method Of electing the Pres
ident and counting the votes will take care
of themselves. 1t is more important now to
fix atten ton on the other and not less i'm
portant heads Of reform.
Two of these are SO closely related that
we will consider them together. The term
ii
President in office should be ineligible for
reelection. The advantage of lengthening
the term must be obvious to all who have
considered the demoralizing effect OF our
frequent Presidential elections. One is
no sooner over than preparations begin
to be made for the next, and the country is
kept in perpetual turmoil Of political
agitation By extending the Presidential
term we should secure an interval of re-
pose. The frequency of our Presidential
elections breeds pestilent race of poll
ticians by trade, who are prevented from
engaging in other pursuits by the hope of
better luck the next time. Even the success
full party can reward but a small portion of
its camp followers, and the losing party has
nothing to bestow after the exhaustion Of
its electioneering funds But the fact that
a new Presidential contest is Immediately
set on foot prevents the great army of
political tramps from disbanding and
enlisting in the ranks of honest
industry. They attach themselves, usually
for local reasons, to such politicians
of their own party as are sup
posed to have Presidential chances and
maintain precarious existence by the
sums they eau beg or borrow from the sup
porters of the particular candidate under
whose banner they enlist. II the Presiden-
tial term were so heightened as to make it
impossible to begin new agitation as soon
MS the old one was ended the political tramps
would find their occupation gone and be
compelled to engage in some regular busi-
ness. When another Presidential election
came around most Of them would be so en-
gagged in their new private pursuits that
they would no longer swell the ranks Of the
political blusterers. 1t is only necessary to
so extend the Presidential term as to
compel the great body of political camp
followers to seek some regular occu-
patton in order to secure period
of repose from the everlasting din and dis
turbance of Presidential agitation. sound
civil service system, that is to say, rule
which should give the subordinate civil
officers a tenure as secure as that of officers
of the army and navy, and thus diminish
the amount of patronage to be scrambled
for in each election would still further dis
courage the politicians by trade and help to
restore the government to the control of
citizens who do not seek to feed at the pub
lie crib.
In extending the Presidential term to six
years it would be indispensable to prohibit
the reelection of q President for the next