The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-04-17
Rotation in Office.

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trainers of it established and be.
queathed to their successors a cardi-
nal principle of government, that
the tenure of Office should be short.
In fact that principle is well recog-
nized and established. When Grant
was spoken of for third term such
an outcry was raised and the custom
so we'll proved that the Republican
party was forced to withdraw his
name. Were it otherwise we would
have in our midst an autocracy of
Office holders who, rendered power
full and rich by their long tenure of
Office, would ultimately claim as
their own what ought to be 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 dates required from each
officer, and a bond is taken for the
performance of those duties. All
misdemeanors in Office as well as
neglect of duties are punishable by
penalties specified by law. There
fore it is a fallacy to say that this
man or that man is entitled to a re-
election for fulfillmsnt of duties
which he was bound to perform both
By his oath and by the laws, and
which be was afraid not to perform
as the penalty specified by the laws
was sure to overtake him.
Our Constitution does not recog-
nize that any one man or any set of
men were born to control this gov.
eminent, but starting on the broad
principle that all men we're born
free and equal, it has left the offices
of this country open to all its citi-
zens, rich or poor, high or low
Jealous of the encroaehments that
might be made on our liberties by
the assumption of powers which
would become established by long
usage, the trainers of the Constitu.
ton limited the term of the Presi-
dental Office to four years, and so
adjusted the different legislative
elections that every four years the
whole working force of the govern
ment is changed either by election
or appointment.
The wisdom of such a course is
palpable, and the history of the last
twenty years proves how true and
jast we're the differences of our early
legislators. The Republican party
having become strong and arrogant
by the constant possession of the
government, was gradually usurp-
ing the whole legislative power, and
had not it been for the Democracy
the Republican party would today
have turned over its tenure of power
to a Inonied autocracy, the prelimi.
nary step to an empire.
It behooves us therefore to be
jealous ofthat prerogatiye, the right
of each citizen to run for and hold
/ Office.
From constable up the principle
holds good. If our Constitution and
usage think it is wrong for a Presi,
dent TO occupy his seat more than
two terms, the principle holds good
from the President down.
i IF rotation in Office is not stand,
ard principle of political economy
in Republic then the argument Of
worth and capacity which will keer
an ofice-holder in for eight years
ought to extend his right of Office to
sixteen years, and so on until oul
4 government would be administered
by officers who, once elected, would
be supposed to remain there fol
theirlife-time.
/ This is not matter of like or dis
like, of worth or capacity, it is 6
matter of principle.
All governments are and must bt
subject to certain general principles