Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-22
Business in Prasidentinl EIectlons

Business in Presidential Elections
Business is always dull in presi-
Dental election year. The possible
complications which may arise from
disputes between contending parties,
threatening the country with serious
political disturbances, restrain business
men from venturing their capital in
undertakings which may be affected
for evil by conflict Of partlsans. The
electoral difficulties OF 1876, when
peace was maintained only by resort
TO extraconstitutional expedients,
show what ground there is for this UNI
easiness in the business world with the
near approach of what may be repe-
tition Of those events. The tim
ldity Of capital has be-
come automatic, and it is sensitive Of
the least approach OF danger, taking
refuge in secure bank vaults at the
first alarm, from whence 1t is not to
be enticed until the appearance OF
danger is past. The withdrawal OF
large sums from trade diminishes the
volume of business and makes "hard
times" The country is now upon the
eve Of close presidential election.
and the effect upon business Is making
itself felt with severity. Everybody
agrees that "times are hard y but aside
from the fact that this is presidential
year, nobody can assign a proper
cause for such an unwholesome condi-
ton. The crops of the country are
more abundant in yield than ever be.
fore, and trade and industry
should be booming, instead OF being
stagDant as they are. True, prices are
low, but this is consequence rather
than the cause Of hard times. AS many
avenues as ever are open to the bust
ness man, and there are millions OF
dollars piled up in banks that would
be bringing good returns If employed
in Legitimate trade but capital lies
untouched, afraid to venture out lest
the pending political contest shall in
volve the country in more serious
strife. For want of the use of this cap
ital trade languishes, industry is idle
and everybody suffers.
We cannot entirely avoid this evil
that attends upon our national cleo.
tions, but 1t can be diminished by MAX
ing those elections less frequent. A
system of popular government must
carry with 1t the right of the people to
choose their rulers, and when party
spirit runs high and there is close
division of opposing factions col
lision of partisans is easily brought on.
This has happened once in our history,
and has been escaped again only by
the exercise of extraordinary prudence,
induced by the yet fresh memories Of
the horrors of intestinal war. If, in
stead of presidential election every
four years, the term OF office was eI-
tended to six or seven years the coun
try would gain two or three years Of
quietness, undisturbed by presidential
elections. In fact, as the constitution
was first drafted and reported to the
convention which framed 1t, seven
years was the length of the presiden-
tlal term, with ineligibllity to a second
term attached. I'm the general discus
sions of the new instrument many
changes aud revisions Were made,
among them the shortening OF the
term to six years, and at last to four
years, with the ineligibility clause
stricken out. Had the members of
that great convention foreseen
the effect upon business OF
one of our general cleo
tions the seVen-year term would have
been adhered to. If ever the country
gets to tinkering with the constitution
and tries to remodel it, one of the
changes sure to be made will be an
extension of presidential service.
The baneful influences of the ap.
preaching election can be but tenn
porary. and relief will come as soon as
the choice Is made and the result
known. The election of either Cleve-
land or Blaine will finally quiet mat
tiers, capital will emerge from its re-
treats, business will resume its wonted
activity, and the approaching winter
will doubtless witness an extraordi-
! nary revival In all branches of trada