Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-01-28
MIR. O,CONOR'S LATEST.
New York Herald.l

ayers tn0ugnt tney ulu cltFer thins
in inviting so renowned lawyer and
iu.ist as Mr. Charles O'Conor to their
banquet. They of course did not ex-
pect that he would so far depart from
his settled habit of stunning festive
meetings as to attend, but they took
their chances of receiving neat letter
of thanks and regret, expressing SYM
pathy with the occasion, which they
hoped to publish as means OF giving
dignity to their dinner. They got
more than they bargained for. In
stead of replying in brief note OF
courtesy Mr.. O'Conor sent them an
elaborate dissertation, in which, with
the audacity of genius, he assailed the
ideas to which Gen. Jackson was
most devoted, and undertook to DEM
onstrate that our political institutions
are failure on their present basis.
So bold genius seldom does things
by halves. Besides declaring his opin-
ion that our Government, as originally
organized, has totally miscarried, Mr..
O'Conor sketched his own plan of a
redeeming substitute. 1t is the most
radical proposition ever presented for
the consideration of a political commu-
nifty.
MIR. O'Conor would have the State
Governments abolished would dis
pense with the Federal Senate and
lodge all Legislative power in the
House of Representatives; would have
the President chosen by lot from the
members of the House, and his term
of Office limited to a single month !;
would abolish the postal service !;
would abolish the army and navy and
depend on the militia; would allow
none but general laws to be passed
would forbid Congress to meet for pur-
poses of legislation, except in some
great exigency; would SO simplify the
Government and abridge its functions
that official prizes would not be worth
contending for, and thus annihilate
political parties by withholding the
'spoils."
Politicians will stop and take breath
after reading such q catalogue of re-
forms proposed in apparently grave
earnest by one Of the most gifted in
tellects Of the country. The light in
which this extraordinary and startling
series of proposals ought to be re-
garded is that of vehement protest
by a citizen of great moral elevation
against the corrupt and chicaning
methods of our party politics. The
extraordinary proposals are a device
for gaining attention, like that grim
proposal of Swift to fatten babies in
Ireland and make them choice arti-
Gle of diet for those who could afford
luxuries. There have been dolts and
simpletons who regarded that singular
pamphlet as proof of Swift's revolt
ing inhumanity. 1t was, in truth, not
only one of the brightest efforts of his
genius, but the most signal exhibition
of his tortured sense of benevolence
and vehement sympathy with Irish
suffering. In the sense in which
Swift intended it was demonstration
that the ragged, shivering, hungry
Irish poor would be less wretched if
they fattened their young children for
the shambles than they were in their
actual condition. That shocking and
revolving ramphlet-shocking and re-
voting to dullards who did not pene-
trate its purpose-was the most siren
uous shrek ever uttered in behalf of
Irish misery. Mr.. O'Conor's genius
does not lie in the same direction as
Swift's; for although he is not inferior
to Swift in satiric vehemence he lacks
the profusely inventive wit of that
greatest of the masters of satire. But
his design is not dissimilar to Swift's
He makes proposal against which he
knows that popular sentiment will re-
volt as a means of emphasizing abuses
which he wishes to impress upon the
attention of his countrymen. His air
of downright seriousness is quite equal
to that Of his imperturbable model
AS Swift drew picture Of nicely
roasted baby on the platter of the no.
bility Gnsinuating that their actual
treatment Of the Irish poor was quite
as inhuman) and described the turns
of the carving knife in dissecting out
the choicest and juiciest cuts, so Mr..
O'Conor carves up our political institu-
tions and exhibits the bare bones
which would be left after the operation.
Of course, Mr. O'Conor's proposals
are tremendous Swiftean satire. A
man of his consummate knowledge
and experience knows well enough
that his scheme is as impracticable as
the fattening of babies to supply the
tables of heartlcss epicurcs. He
counts upon the revolt of public senti-
ment against proposals which he puts
forth merely as vigorous and pecu-
liar protest against the scandalous
abuses of our political system. Mr..
O'Conor does not need to be told that
a monthly President, chosen by lot, is
visionary idea. How could treaties
ever be negotiated with foreign Gov
ernment if the director of the negotia-
tions was changed every month ?
What continuity could there be in our
foreign or domestic policy if subject to
the caprices of jumpingjack Presidents,
taken monthly by lot from the ordinary
herd of congressman? How could
great war be conducted when the Com
mander-in-C Chief of the national armies
could scarcely begin to acquaint him.
self with the situation before giving
place to successor as raw as himself ?
Mr.. O'Conor sees the objections to his
scheme better than anybody can tell
him, but it does not thence follow that
he has not rendered service in giving
emphasis to the bad condition of our
politics.
There is really much food for useful
reflection in Mr.. O'Conor's PROPOSE
tions. He has pierced the great vice
of our political system to the pith.
Our politics have been demoralized by
our Presidential elections. 1t is inn
portant to abate the vehemence and
cOrruntiOn of our unadrennial presi