Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-05-06
POLITICAL czARIsM.

the form Of government under which
they live. They have, as compared
with others. the endowments of .
higher and stronger organization. ant
can, hence. surpass the average mar
in almost any task to which they ap
ply their powers. This sort of su
premacy is natural, and no matter o
complaint.
| So, too. some men, by reason o
the Office they hold and the power:
thereof, will and must be greater thar
others. General Garfield, being
President of the United States, is fol
the time being vastly a greater man
than he would be as :, private citizen
The greatness of his Office imparts an
immense significance to the thoughts
and purposes ofhis mind. He thinks
and wills, and acts as the President
of great nation. This sort of car.
ism is official, and to it, If properly ex-
ercised, there can be no possible OBJ.
lection.
Political parties must of necessity
have their leaders, who lay plans,
make speeches, and Go the hard
work OF winning party victories, and
generally want Offices. These leaders,
by reason Of their talents and labor
naturally make themselves greater
and stronger as party politicians than
most of the members Of the party
with which they act. They are en-
titled to all the influence properly due
to their position and service. We de-
nounce no man because he is a poll
tician. or because he is party leader,
or because he has a large influence
with his party and uses it to attain
his ends.
There is. however. class OF party
leaders who assume the airs and claim
for themselves the imperial preroga-
tives of absolute dictators, and we
confess frankly that in these men we
have not much confidence and for
them but little respect. They are po-
litical czars, dogmati:- self-willed,
self opipionated, intensely selfish, al
ways grasping for power, determined
to have their own way in everything,
and ready to kick up row unless
Their ascendarcy is fully recognized
according to their notions of its im-
portance. They must be pleased, at
all hazards, Not to please them is
to make them enemies. Almost ev-
cry president OF the United States
who undertakes to discharge the du-
ties of his office according to his own
judgment finds himself, sooner or Ia
ter. in conflict with these self-sufficient
self-assuming, and exactlng czars in
politics. What they want is that the
president should be their tool; and, if
he declines the humiliating position
and service, then they punish him
with their hostility. Implicit obedi-
ance to their will is the price that must
be paid for their friendship.
These political czars are very likely
to be found in the Senate of the Unit
ed States, not because senators are
naturally worse than other men, but
because senators are generally lead
ers and are clothed by the Constitu-
ton with the power of voting for or
against the nominations made by the
President. The theory of some sena-
tors is that they must control the pat
ronage of the Government in the
state which they represent. They |
own this patronage, and they own the
President, by the propriety right Of po-
Etical czarism, and woe to the Pre.i-
dent who ventures to dispute their
claim. Inconvenience with their
demands Is the signal for war upon
him. This is the whole secret of the
recently made iE Washington
over the nomination OF Judge Robert
son by President Garfield. Judge
Robertson, though gentleman Of the
highest standing, does not happen to
be agreeable to the New York sena-
tors, especially the senior senator.
He does not belong to their machine
and cannot be trusted to work it, and
hence, collector at the port of New
York he shall not be, if they can pre-
vent it.
Judge Robertson is the choice of
President Garfield, and the fact that
ne is not pleasing in the eye of fSena-
or Conkling is no reason for with
his name and none for reject
ng the nomination. If the Senator
will be dissatisfied unless he can con.
rol the President, then let HIM be
The President will be
better off without his friendship Than
,-ith II e Ia ,,,,,et ,,,,.cLaca Il ,nan |