The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-01-16
ROTATION In OFFICE,

1t eStaDllSn6u anu Dequetueu 10 tHelI
successors a cardinal principle of gov
eminent, that the tenure Of Office should
be short.
In fact that principle is we'll recog-
nized and established. When Grant
was spoken of for third term such an
outcry was raised and the custom so
well proven that the Republican party
was forced to withdraw his name
Were it otherwise we would have in
our midst an autocracy of offico-hold-
ers who, rendered powerful and rich
by their long tenure Of Office, would
ultimately claim as their own what
ought to be left to the choice of the
people.
All Republics are governed by laws
alone, and officers are selected merely
to carry those laws into effect. The
Constitution and the Code of Practice
specify and dictate the exact duties re-
quired from each officer, and bond is
taken for the performance of those du-
ties. All miseemeanors in Office as
well as neglect Of duties are punisha
BILE by penalties specified by law.
Therefore it is fallacy to say that
this man or that man is entitled to
reelection for fulfllment of duties
which he was bound to perform both
by his oath and by the laws, and which
he was afraid not to perform as the
penalty specified by the laws was sure
to overtake him.
| Our Constitution does not recognize
that any one man Or any set of men
were born to control this government,
but starting on the broad pridciple that
all men were born free and equal, it
has left The offices of this country open
to all its citizens, rich or poor, high Or
low. Jealous of the Entertainments
that might be made on our liberties by
the assumption Of powers which would
become established by long usage, the
| trainers of the Constitution limited the
term Of the Presidential office to four
years, and so adjusted the different
legislative elections that every four
years the whole working force Of the
government is changed either by cleo
ton CT appointment.
The wisdom of such course is pal
Epable, and the history of the last TWEEN,
ty years proves how true and just were
the differences of our early Legislators
The Republican party having become
strong and arrogant by the constant
possession of the government, was
gradually usurping the whole legisla.
tive power, and had not it been for the
Democracy the Republican party would
to-day have turned over its tenure o.
power to monied autocracy, the pre-
liminary step to an empire.
: 1t behooves US therefore to be jeal
a GUS Of that prerogative, the right O
/ each citizen to run for and hold office
t From constable up the principle
holds good. If our Constitution ant
usage think it is wrong for a Presiden
a to occupy his seat more than two
terms, the principle holds good from
. the President down.
: If rotation in office is not a STANDARD
principle of political economy in Re
+ public then the argument OF worth ant
v capacity which will keep an Office
!. holder in for eight years, ought to ex
v tend his right of office to sixteen years
/ and so on until our government woul'
be administered by officers who, one
elected, would he supposed 20 remain
s there for their lifetime.
r This is not matter of like or dis
rs like, of worth Or capacity, it is a mai
i ter of principle.
'e All governments are and must b
subject to certain general principles a
;, necessary to them, as a rule Of condut
is necessary to private individuals.
y, rotation in Office is part of and en-
- bodied in the very structure of o,
G. government it is our duty to adhere
Of it no matter whom it hurts. If, hoy
ever, in the onward march of our cou1
try it has become absolete, let
IL change the Constitution of our COUNT
~ and when an officer is once elected |
III him remain there as long as he please
IT, For us, we'll rotate.
ne The Shreveport Standard We
justly remarks: ut is to be regrette
nc IL 10 q rrraat misfortune IN uoo Al