The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-09-07
The Presidents Practical Politics.

The President of the United States
has gone to New York for the purpose
of conferring with the politicians OF his
party in regard to the approaching elec-
tions Such is the news teleeraphed
from Washington. The time was When
we had Presidents whose conception Of
the dignity of the first Office of the Re-
public was OF SO lofty character that
they cdnld ret find it consistent with
their sworn olliei;tl duty 10 mihgle in
party politiesor to regard themselves
at the mere chieftains of a faction.
They believed themselves representative
of the whole people, though chosen to
4ffiee through the instrumentality OF
party organization. II some Of chem
were governed in the exercise of the
appointing pcNer by the doctrine that
:. TO the victofs belong the spoils,' they
still discriniuated in favor of the public
interest by selecting men of character
and fitness s5,d declined to place the
batrof ofiagfs * the Government at the
eon1nzaalfz llss . of amh;tidlts. poll.
ticians, to be distributed for personal
ends or to be made a corrupt bond of
cohesion between discordant elements
of their party. But they existed before
the days of Grantism and the Stalwarts.
The use, of the power of the Federal
Government to perpetuate political or
personal dynasty is as unrepilblican and
a1itagUnistie to the spirit of free institu-
tions as to establish hereditary mon
archy. The difference is OILY tiominal.
If President Arthur should re-elect hini-
self by using his Official power TO that
end and at the termination of his sec
ond terR dictate his own successor by
the same MEANS the distinction between
our form OF Government and that of a
hereditary monarchy would consist only
in the n1antier by which the transmits
sion Of the Executive power from the
incumbent to his successor would be ac-
complished. The fact that we have be-
come accustomed to the interference of
the Federal Government in State cleo
tions does not lessen but rather aggra-
Yates the peril of republican institutions.
The puerile terror of State Rights and
the mawkish sentiment in favor of Fed
eral intermeddling in State elections,
which SO lafgelf control the party in
power, were the Inspiration of Grant in
his attempt to force himself, through the
political power of his Administration,
into third term of the Presidency.
ambitious Gsrt1aliel and is ready to go
farther even than his preceptor TO sstab-
lish a dynasty Of his own. He is 'tprae-
tical politician and in his lexicon prac-
tical politics is defined to mean, first,
power for Chester A. Arthur. secondly,
power for Chester A. Arthur's special
friends. He has chosen few practical
politicians to share his POWER and TO as
sist him in transmitting it to a success
or to be selected by himself and these
sharers of his political fortunes. His
| principal copartners are j. Donald
| Cameron, Of Pennsylvania, and John
A. Legan,. of Illinois. These two have
recently been givai control Of the
greater part of the patronage lately and
at present at his disposal. He is to as
sist them in controlling the politics OF
their respective States BY all the power
of his Administration, and they in turn
are to bring him delegations for renom
ination Id 1884. His own State of New
York he will look after in person. Thus
second term for Arthur becomes al
issue in the approaching elections
Nay, hot merely second term fol
Arthur, but the establishment gf the
Stalwart dynasty first projected bj
Grant, revived by the pistol shot O
Guiteau, and to be perpetuated by the
practical politics which regards NJ
honorable precedent, respects no con
stitutional restriction, and aims only a
the qualification of the personal af11bi
tions of those who adopt it as pfofes
sion. n.-Hdffts6atrg Patriot: