The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-18
REV. ID. ". FISHER.
'The Presidential Ca~InpaIgn-Is there n
Remedy for the Perpetual Excitement
Incident 10 the Presidency?

MADISON IND, April III, 1871
ElllOs InteliIgenCet:
II in our country today We had some
man who, like Washington in his later
years, possessed the confidence Of all pc.
litical parties, there are certain tendencies
in our public affairs to which I could wish
that he would call attention. They are
not necessarily r%uinous, but they certainly
need to be put under restraint.
THE PERPETUAL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
One Of these is the constant agitation TO
which the nation is coming to be subject.
cd in regard to the election Of q President.
During the hundred years which have
elapsed since this government was estab.
lishGd, the excitement incident TO the
choice Ola Chief Magistrate has been only
misunderstanding once every four years
and continuing on an average not over
twelve months. But it is plain that at
present the tendency is to subject the ma.
ton to a constant excitement with reference
to the matter. BY the time the next Pres.
ident takes his seat w will have had
five or six years Of almost uninterrupted
agitation about 1t. II may be that our cx.
perienCe Just at this junCture will prove to
lie exceptional. fear, however, that 1t
marks the direction in which we are
drifting. II it does, 1t is q state OF
affairs greatly to be deplored. Prosperity
in any OF its chief forms is hardly possible
in large degree under such circumstances.
II is question whether Republican gov
eminent can permanently endure, II con.
stantly exposed to the tension Of such
political agitation. We are all persuaded
that the country greatly needs q season OF
rest from these troubles.
CAUCUS IN LEGISLATION.
Another p%erilous tendency is the caucus
in legislation. Thoughtful people deplore
the abuse OF it which is apparent in the
election Of candidates for office. But bad
rs IL often is in that sphere there Is a
remedy left. 1t is possible for the people
TO defeat the candidates whom il proposes.
And not ~infrequently they do rise up and
show their superiority to this machine
which politicians have devised. But in
legislation there is no remedy at least for
the time. Now, see how the caucus, in
that department, operates. Men are
chosen to go tothe Legislature or Congress
to represent their districts. They are
always elected because at least q good part
OF their constituents have faith In their
personal wisdom and integrity. But upon
their arrival at the seat OF govern.
ment they go with the men Of their
own party into caucus rs to much OF the
legislation which shall be done. The
principles which are assumed are that
every genuine adherent OF the political
party will enter into this consultation, and
that having gone into it he will abide by
the decision. The end OF it is that the in
~.lividuality OF the representatives is lost.
lie becomes a mere until the court. The
worst Of all is the loss OF a consciousness
OF personal responsibility in regard TO all
those measures upon which the caucus acts.
Itthere is blame it is rolled over upon the
party. The discussion Of public measures
which is SO vital to wise legislation also
becomes almost a farce. The decree as to
what shall be done has been issued
i'll advance, by the party which
happens to be in the majority. The de.
bate can be OF no avail, except as it may
affect the choice OF legislator q year OF
two after the deed has been done and the
consequences have been felt. | do not
question the necessity for consultation
about important measures. In this con.
sultation also men OF the same party, OF
course, must as a rule deliberate together,
especially il the proposed legislation af.
feCts politics. But as the caucus is com.
ing more and more TO be employed, it is
calculated to destroy respect for law and
to remove some OF the most vital princi.
IlnG MnDO WI int, FINN n nd VnRuIoH At,
ment rests, In this matter We are heading
in the wrong direction.
AN UNDESIRABLE POLITICAL ISSUE.
II seems to me TINT the shape which
the Presidential campaign is likely ia
assume is much to be deprecated. The at.
tempt will be made to have a "Solid South
on the one side, and n "Solid North" ON
the other side. Thus the s~ectionalism
which we had hoped to have seen ended
by this time, bids fair to be perpetuated,
But even this is a less evil than some other
things which threaten us in connection
with the approaching contest. The pros,
pect is that the issue will be largely as to
the powers Of the executive and Legislative
departments OF the Government. To ad.
just these, together with the judiciary, SO
that they should be coordinate and equal
and without friction, was one of the most
delicate tasks which the trainers OF our
Constitution had to perform. The
preservation OF this nice balance is
vital to the welfare OF Republican institu.
tons. And feel sure that it is perilous
TO submit such questions TO the rude
landings Of political conventions, stump
orIttors and votes, many OF which arc
cast by people who are ignorant ofthe first
principles OF the science OF government. |
would not like the hair spring OF my watch
to DO taken out and allowed 10 be beaten
and manipulated by persons who know
nothing OF the machinery OF such an in.
strument. ] would be afraid that By the
time when they are done with It the
watch would be ruined. Have we not rs
much reasen to deprGcate the subsection
oil the most delicate m%echanicism Of the
government TO the rough dealing Of q politi-
cal campaign? We may come out of it
without injury. But it is at least not i'm.
probable that the end will be, either n
serious conflict between the two depart.
ments OF government, or the permanent
Subordination OF one 10 the Other,-rcsults
greatly to be deplored. Wise aud patriotic
statesmen ought to lind n way % avoid
such an issue. | may add that this ia es.
pCcially true Of the present case, because
the campaign is likely to be conducted
largely on the principle of fighting fire
with fire. One party will be very ant to
insist that the other is using corrupt
means, and that therefore they are at
liberty to do the same, in order to meet
them.
THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE.
In the distance l see the form Of social.
ism looming on our horizon. Nv W
opinion is thatin all countries this ia the
coming ''irrepresible conflict" For many
centuries ever and anon the questions
with which socialism deals have been
started by individuals. On account Of
other moro pressing matters connected
encouragement and society in its various