The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-12-03
~ors- Large.
s.a@ 81 T. rriSnne, nth
t-Large. M ~" ~. 1ar,o vy.s, v.,yx. 49, = -
- 81 #IaM 80 10 west Young Man. w.

The suggestion of a correspondent in IN
Tribune the other day that Mr.. Hayes shout,
be elected Senator from Ohio in place of Gen
Garfield was one manifestation out of man,
of the popular regaFi for the retiring Presi
dent. Mr.. Hayes win leave Office with
much greater popularity than he had whe,
he took tia record which few President
can equal. Tic has steadily won his way into
the goodwill of the American people, an,
even the wits who have made merry over Tin
Apollinaris water of the White House tabl,
and have mockedth thin favorof his speech
es, find themselves forced to admire the maj
as well as his Administration. Indeed ,ther,
Is such kindly feeling on the part of tb,
public toward the ex-President that Is to be
as well as toward the ex-Presldent that Is
that there would seem to be no better tim,
for reviving the old and excellent idea O
making our ex-Presidents Senators Large
for life. - = 60
Hthere Is any one direction In which ON,
Republic is conspicuously ungrateful, 1t /.
toward Its ex-Presidents. The President Of
the United States is about the only citizen In
IL who has no future. The moment his sue.
cessor lifts his hand TO take the oath of office
the retiring President beeomesa nobody who
is under an implied obligation not TO make
any attempt 10 become somebody. 1t is not
usual for him TO take Office again, If he can
get (which, In the rancor of our politics,
would often be difficult anyway. 1t is not
usual for him TO resume his old business or
profession. Etiquette seems to forbid that,
as we'll as his taking an official position in
feror TO that he has once held. He may be
poor. He may not like to be idle. But Gus
tom demands that he shall fold his hands
and devote himself TO the work of preserving
his dignity-a line Of official duty which, in
other countries as a rule commands liberal
salary. Gen. Grants case has been an ex-
ception to this rule, for variety of reasons,
but no one can run over In his mind the list,
Of Presidents who have survived any length
Of time after leaving Office, without being
painfully impressed with the injustice and
absurdity Of the obscurity to which men were
condemned who once held the first place in
the nation aud who acquired there an expe-
rience, which the Nation for its own sake,
should have utilized. lttza u j W
There seems to be a growing disposition to
recognize the lack Of practical wisdom as
well as Of common gratitude in such policy.
In Gen. Grants case, the feeling that the
country owes him something more, for his
military services alone, than the unpaid post
of a private citizen, has taken shape in a
proposition to raise fund by subscription,
the interest Of which can be given TO him as
apension.
We cannot believe that such an arrange
mcnt would be pleasing to General Grant.
1t would be vastly more becoming that this
end should be reached, If necessary, by the
grateful action Of the country than It should
come as a downright gratuity from indivdu-
ais. 1t can be accomplished, without doing
violence TO republican ideas and without vi
olating the unwritten law against the multi
plication Of pensions and the creation Of
any office holding aristocracy, how ever small,
by making General Grant and Mr.. Hayes
and all ex-Presidents who shall follow them
Senators-at-Large for life. To make the
special distinction thus conferred complete,
the salary Of such Senators might be double
the regular salary, thus providing ample
means for the support of public men whose
positions would be, in peculiar sense, Ma.
tional. In this way the country would free
itself OF the reproach Of turning Presidents
out OF Office with less than enough money TO
live on. 1t would avail itself of the fruits
Of much valuable experience. And lastly,
In the instances now before us, 1t would hon.
or two men Of whom the American people
are justly proud.
Probably the largest obstacle to such a
project, just at this time, would be the
Democratic fear of two additional Republi-
can votes In tho Senate. Though Senators
at-Large would undoubtedly be careful to
avoid partisan course, 1t would be natural
and proper for them to adhere, on questions
of principle, TO their respective parties.
Practically 1t would make no difference, be-
cause the change can only be made through
constitutional amendment, and before that
can be adopted the Senate will undoubtedly
have become Republican, Perhaps it would
helpto disar1n such opposition If II were I'M
destood, as it should be, that a ,Senatorship
-at-Large was a life-trust to be respected as
Of unique distiction, and not TO be soiled by
struggles for Presidential nomination. Mr..
Hayes Is committed by his letter Of accept
ance, from which he has never wavered, to
the doctrine of single Presidential term,
and General Grants friends must have seen
In the vote Of the Chicago Conventionthat no
man ahan ever DO elected 70 Che presidency
sthird time. Aprecedsnt SET BY two such
men would have the force Of law, and the
serene dignity of b Senatorship Large the
most ambitious American would be proud TO
enjoy and the American people would be
proud to see. ~ $50 ss~a"