The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-10
ONE PRESIDENTIAL TERM.

III mas Decu Sdlu tHal ulOSS WIZ hoNS bSSi
in favor of a constitutional restriction to one
Presidential term have been partisans opposed
to the Presidential incumbent But if true,
the suggestion of such amendment by the
EVENING LIGHT will not occupy that ground.
| 1t is at least true that when the Democratic
party proposed that "old white hat" should
supersede the veteran cigar that the nation
had smoked since Vicksburg, Mr.. Greeley's
reliance was upon an exaggerated popular
demonstration in favor of Presidential one
term politics But it was President Jackson
who first 1--WE think in his farewell address,
preached the theory and suggested that the
one term should be of six years. 1t seemed
reasonable that such a suggestion should
come from "Old Hickory" who had broken
down the civil service that had prevailed from
the beginning of the Government and founded
a new upon the prescription of his political
enemies He named his own sue
cessor in the man whose min
lister of State proclaimed the doctrine
that "to the victors belong the spoils." These
extravagant departures from early precedent
which opened the country to demoralizing in
fluences, then unprecedented, made one term
signally proper and its suggestion by Presi-
dent Jackson signally appropriate.
1t is lamentably true that the decencies of
life require, in the highest stations, to be Sc
cured against the proneness of men to greed
and aggrandizement. If questions OF re-elec-
ton were safe against corrupting influences,
and could be left to an unbiased expression Of
the public will, such safeguards as constitu-
tional restraints might be dispensed with.
But when under normal conditions did a
President ever fail of reelection Tempests
may break like that which swept Van Buren,
from power; or a great event like the late
war sweep away all vestages of an admins
tration, as in the case of Buchanan; or, as in
the case of President Hayes, an irretriev-
able contre temps may cause an in
cumbent, unless aggressive and self
OF political incident. But when normal condi-
tons prevail, and prosperity and peace rule,
what virtue can be discovered or relied on in
President or people TO resist that vicious
element constituted Of government diffused
by means of its patronage among all commu-
mites, and rallied through the activity of in
terested partisans at every poll? But it is not
true, as often urged, that an executive incum-
bent might devote the Government patronage,
or that it would be applied with equal effect, to
the cause of some aspiring favorite. Men do
not commit depravity or crime in or out of
office in the cause OF others. 1t is only and
always the blindness of self that leads men to
forego their self respect or prejudice their
honor in the cause of ambition or OF gain.
The Presidential Office is one which, from its
exalted character, is calculated to bring into
action the highest traits of any man
chosen to it. One of the meanest ambi-
tons, perhaps even to RIGHTEOUSNESS, having
attained height so supreme, will put away
his vices and adapt his department to the sta
ton he fills, if there be nothing beyond to
entice him into the snareS of temptation. The
one thing beyond that could keep him from
the purposes of lofty patriotism and drown
his moral energies in the impurities of his
own vicious nature, is this pestlent political
error of reelection.
We regard it as incumbent in the Republi-
can party to guard against perpetuating abuses
that have crept into its organization in direct
conflict with that civil service reform which is
sought in the era of President Hayes to in
augurate, which can be best done by the adop-
ton of the One-term principle, and by its
adoption at this time.
Houston Property for Sale.
A good cottage house and lot on Mckinney