New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-15


SENATORS-ATLARGE.
The suggestion OF correspondent in THE
TRIBUNE the other day that Mr.. Hayes should
be elected Senator from Ohio in place OF
General Garfield was one manifestation out
of many of the popular regard for the
retiring President Mr.. Hayes Will leave Oh
fee with a much greater popularity than he
had when he took tia record which few
Presidents can equal He has steadily won
his way into the goodwill Of the American
people, and even the wits who have made
merry over the Apollinaris water Of tho White
Uouse table and have Knocked the thin flavor
Of his speeches, find themselves forced to adj
mire the man as well as his Administration.
Indeed. there is such a kindly feeling on the
mart of the 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 bet
ter time for rovlyinG the old and excellent
idea of making our ex-Presidcnts SenatoTs-at-
Large for life.
If there is any one direction in which our
Republic is conspicuOusly ungrateful, 1t Is
toward its ex-Prc.idents. The President OF
the United States is about the only citizen in
il who has no future. The moment his
successor lifts bis hand to take the oath
Of Office. the retiring President becomes
n nobody who is under an implied obligation
not to make any attempt TO become some
bodv. It "a not usual for Him to take Office
again, if be can get lt-whlch, in the rancor
of our politics, would often be difficult any
way. 1t is not usual for him 10 resume
his old business or profession. Etiquette seems
to forbid that, as well as his taking an
official position inferior to that which he has
once held. He may be poor. He may not
like to be idle. But custom demands that he
shall fold his hands and devote himself
TO the work of preserving bis dig
nity-a line Of official duty which,
in other countries, as a rule, com
mands liberal salary. General Grants case
has been IN exception 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 obscurty to
which men were condemned who once held
the first place in the Nation and who ac-
qulred there an experience, which the Nation,
for its own sake, should have utilized.
There seems to b. a growing disposition to
recognize the Lack Of practical wisdom as
well as of common gratitude in such policy.
In General Grants case, the feeling that the
country owes him something more, for his
military services alone than the unpaid post
of private citizen. has taken shape in a
nropcsiiion to raise a fund by subscriptions,
the interest of which can he given 10 him As
= uension. We cannot believe that such an
arrangement would b. pleasing to General
Grant. It would be vastly more becoming
that this end should be reached. If necessary,
by the grateful action of the country
than that it should come as a downright
gratuity from individuals. 1t can be accom-
plishcd. without doing violence to republican
ideas and without violating the unwriI-
ten law against the multiplication of
pensions and the creation OF any office
holding aristOcTacy, however small, 10y
making General Grant and Mr.. Hayes
and all ex-Presdents who shall follow them
Scnators-at-Lar for life. To make the spe
cial distinction thus conferred complete the
salary of such Senators might be made double
the regular salary, thus providing ample means
for The support of public men whose positions
would be, in n peculiar sense, National. In
VI
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 ex-
perence. And lastly, in the instances now
before us, it would honor two men of whom
the American people are justly proud.
Probably the largest obstacle to such pro-
iect. inst at this time, would lie the Demo-
cratic fear of two additional Republican votes
in the Senate. Though Senator's at-Large would
undoubtedly be careful TO avoid partisan
course, it would be natural and proper for
them 10 adhere, on questions OF principle, TO
their respective parties. Practically it
would make no difference, because the change
can ONLY be made through Constitutional
Amendment, and before that can be adopted
the Senate viii inevitably have become Re
publican. Perhaps it would help to disarm
sucb oppostion If il were understood-as it
sbould be-that a Senatorship-at-Large was
nfe-trust to be respected rs Of unique
distinction. and not to be soied in struggles
for Presidential nominations. Mr.. Hayes is
committed by his letter OF acceptance. from
which he has never wavered, to the doctrine
If a single Presidential term, and General
Grants friends must have seen in the vote Of
the Chicago Convention the decision OF the