Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-11-26
SENATOR-ATLARGE.

The New York Tribune, of the 18th inst,
devotes column of editorial to the consid-
Grafton Of this subject, viz: to make retiring
Presidents of the United States Senate RS
for life, with salary double that which
other Senators receive.
In the support of such monstrous and
revolutionary idea the Tribune bases its en-
tire argument upon the ground that "our
Republic is conspicuously ungrateful to-
wards its Presidents" that this evil
should be remedied and an opportunity af.
forded IN which 1--WE would be able to honor
two men, Grant and Hayes, of whom the
American people are justly proud
The adoption of any such proposed meas
ure would be productive of such change
in our political system as would tend to a
most serious Infringement of the rights Of
the States, and would be practical abroga-
ton of those safeguards upon which the
constitution Of the Senate is based. 1t would
mean violence TO the unwritten law, twould
be the establishment of an aristocratic pen
sion not in keeping with the spirit of our
institutions it would mean the stepping
stone to that anarchy which has broken all
the most sacred bonds of society, dissolved
all the relations of civil life, violated every
right, COMPOUNDED every duty, and which
uses the name of liberty to exercise the most
cruel tyranny.
The danger of such political changes arises
not so much from their immediate but their
ultimate consequences, not from those who
inaugurate, but those who follow them up
Alterations of such character once rashly
commenced cannot easily be stopped; the
fever Of innovation siezes the minds of the
energetic portion of the people, and the pru-
dent speedily become unable to stem the
torrent The prospect Of gain rouses the
ambitious and reckless they issue from OBJ
scurity to share the spoils, and in the strug-
gle rapidly acquire the ascendency. Having
nothing to lose, they are indifferent as to the
consequences of their actions having no
principles, they accommodate themselves to
those of the most numerous and least worthy
of the people
Nothing durable in nature is made but by
the slowest degrees the flowers of summer
are as ephemeral as the warmth which pro-
duces them; the oak, the growth of centu-
ries, survives the fury of the storms and lives
in beauty and strength when blackened
walls and crumbling pillars are all that is
left To tell of the grandeur and power of
kingdoms and empires. The constitution
and organization of the Senate was the off
spring of intellectual giants, and its wisdom
has been manifested and strengthened by in
creasing years.
1t is evident, plainly 50, Indeed the arti-
Gle does not seek to hide it, that place
must be made for Gen. Grant, and this is
about the only one which would comport
with his dignity. That he must be pen.
stoned and in such way as will not detract
from his prestige because of its "unque dis.
tinction."
To crafty the ambition of this political
pigmy, TO get rid of this elephant, ito honor
two men Of whom the American people are
so justly proud" we must, in violation o.
the spirit Of our institutions, create United
States Senatorship at large. We have one
consolation, that this change can only b,
made through constitutional amendment
and we do not believe the State Legislature,
will ever endorse any such dangerous
scheme.