Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-16

under these circumstan-
res, then the measure upon which |
he was defeated and upon which he
appeals to the people becomes what
we call campaign question, and If
there is still a majority in the newly
elected Parliament against the Cab
met, then there is no further appeal;
the Cabinet must resign and new
one be chosen from the opposition,
the method of doing which is as fol-
lows: The Sovereign accepts the
resignation of the Prime Minister
and with it that of the rest of the
Cabinet, and sends for the leader of
the opposition either in the House
of Lords or the House of Commons,
instructs him to form Cabinet
with which he can act and in which
he himself is to be Prime Minister.
This, then, as a rough sketch,
leaving many details unexplained,
is the method which the experience
of ages has elaborated in England
as the means for securing two inn
pOrtant objects-that the executive
and legislative elements of the Gov
eminent shall cooperate, and that
the former shall always be in har-
lnony, as regards great measures,
with the latter. We have by no
means put it forward as a mode to
be adopted in this country; there
are many points in it not only mex
pedient but impossible for us, and
every nation has to work out its
own system in the light of its own
exigencies. Moreover, we have said
nothing as yet of the relations of the
two houses to one another in either
country. We would only point out
that the English have found out a
way of bringing about harmonious
action between the executive and
legislative departments Of Govern
ment, and we have not.
The presence of the Cabinet in the
two Houses of Legislature we be-
lieve to be a very important object ;
not that we would have them mem
6ers of the House and Senate, but
the presence of the Secretary OF
State in the Senate, and that of the
Financial Secretary in the House,
to make statements and answer
questions, would, in our belief, give
great facilities for the expedition OF
business. AT the same time to allow
them the initiative in the prepare
ton of measures without securing
their substantial Identification in
political faith with the majority
could never become admissible. Al
the same time the present anomaly
of an Executive employed to carry
out financial measures to which il
is Numerically opposed in opinion
is thing of which the whole nation,
we think, will shortly demand the
abolition. The objects which we
consider ought to be aimed at are
three:
First-The sequestratiOn of the
President from party politics.
Second-The presence of the Cab
met in the Chambers of Legislature
Third-The conformity in politi
cal creed of the Cabinet with the
majority in the House of Legisla
ture.
The Inconvenience of the presen
arrangements is most felt in peri
DDS when publicOpiniOn is undergo
ing change as it is now. The Hous'
being changed in its personnel mOr'
frequently than the Senate feel
more promptly the impulse of tn,
change than the Senate and meas
urably more quickly than the Exec
utive, and this inconvenience is ag
gravated at the present time by tn
consideration that the Executiv
was by election in accord with tn
House, but the elected officer wa
, set aside and one at variance wit
the majority therein substituted 70
him. 1t is one of the most credita
BILE things in the history of tn
! American people that such cOndi
ton of affairs has not been attends
by violent popular commissions;
could be passed through by no Ell
? ropean nation in tranquility.