The Wilmingtonian., 1885-08-15
OUR EX-PRESIDENTs

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nal upon the question of the disposition po-
litieally, and inferentially in social sense,
of our Presidents after they have relinauish-
ed the lcns of office.
AS the disposition of this Question in
wolves upon its surface, (should the sugges.
tions Of this letter bear fruit) not alone GER
tain amendments to the Constitution of the
United States but departure from the spir-
it Of the early teachings of the founders Of
the nation, it will be recognized, immediate
ly, as matter demanding the careful con
sideration of every citizen in the land.
Inc question is of immensely added import
ance when We remember the prominence Of
Richard Watson Glider (the editor of the
Century Masazine) and the great weight his
endorsement of any projected constitutional
change would have among the intelligent
masses of this country.
Mr.. Glider with-holds the name of the
writer of the brochure, but prefaces IL
with a few markedly oommendatory words
of endorsement from his own pen.
1t is right and proper that the people of
this country should be widely informed
what manner of inen are these hol.ing
prominent and weighty position among their
fellow-men, as guiding lights in the intellect
ual and literary world, who so lightly treat
the most precious teachings of democratic
doctrine.
The pith of the letter (from which we
quote) is first reached where reference is
made to s'that class of citizen, than whom
there is none more difficult to classify
none whose position is so difficult or embar-
RAISING" But yesterday king; to-day
'none so poor to do him reverence. AT
once the most conspicuous and one of the
most poweress private citizens of the Re-
public. He is relegatcd to privacy unsup-
ported by single expression of the nations
gratitude or the slightest official recognition
OF the loss the public service sustains in
parting with lis unique experience and
trained familiarity with public affairs. He
takes with him in retirement no official
rank, no title, not even ribbon, etc, etc.,
to distinguish him from the obscurest and
least deserving Of his countrymen = : \
lie is (on retircmeut) expected to sustain
the dignity of the first citizen Of the repub-
lie for the remainder of his life, without any
Of the resources or privileges which such a
rank implies, at the very time when he de-
serves to be regarded as one of the nations
most valuable assets, he is not only cast out
as the peel of an orange, as worthless, but
etc., etc.
The writer then continues-Is this as it
should be? Is it just to our chiefsmagis-
tratesP Is it just 10 ourselves? Is it good
politics?-The time seems to have arrived
when something should be done to secure
for ex-Presidents rank and position which
shall make due account not only Of the SER
vices, ETC., etc.
After preamble of the above nature the
writer of the letter tlen proceeds to state
his remedy. It's, when President's==term
of office expires he shall become a Senator
fthe United States for life, with half the
salary he received as President On the
day he hands over the key of the White
House to his successor he should be uuali-
fed to step into the Upper House of our
Federal leg islature.
The writer of the letter makes no mystery
of his belief that there exist demands that
the social position of the ex-President is a
condition incumbent upon the consideration
of the American people, and makes implied
reference TO European social procedure and
etiquette. After stating his proposed
amendments to the constitution, his closing
% Su''ohUo 'iAdho ASieIeuco W tne auuen ulg-
nifty and substantial advantages to the egis-
latiye department. under the proposed
mendments-sayinga also that it wonld be
an cffectual contribution to Civil Service
Reform, creating an indifference to re-eIec-
tion in the mind of the incumbent, etc,
etc.
The feelings Of surprise aud indignation
with which the intelligent democrat will
listen to such words as the foregoing would
be extremely difficult to describe. Imagine,
for one moment, the anti-democratic princi-
pies involved in the acceptation of such
teachings! Upon the surface they appear
harmless enough and perhaps under a Ger
tain train Of thought, that Of approbatiye.
ness and not unnatural desire to see those
who have once held prominent official posi-
tion continue it in measure Of social digni-
ty.
Those ideas may be tolerated, aud there
can be no great objection to their realiza-
tion if in the methods used for their accom-
plishment there can be discerned no trench.
ing upon the idea Of ''equ,lty among men,
or the fundamental teachings of demo-
cratic form of government
We would ask why, in community such
as ours, in which if there be any honesty of