Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-08-24
DIR POLITICAL SYSTEM


Foreign countries do not think favorably
Of the system by which the American exec
utive is changed once in four years. They
feel that the political system is wanting in
political efficiency, that the dignity of state
is not properly main tanned, and that the in
dividual element involved in the repeated
change ofrulers is dangerous TO the conserv-
atism that exists in good government They
do not see the situation from our point of
view, and it is possible that many of our
own citizens would prefer to retain good
President three or four terms rather than 60
through the experiment of breaking in
new man. 1t is proverbial that the success
sion of Presidents causes break in bust
ness, and that the year of Presidential
election is bad for all pursuits that are in
fluenced by u change in the policy of the
government. Then there are those who do
not like the concomitants of the election
The excitement that attended the election
q. In Harrison in 1S40 was arougi Fazs is
said, beyond anything that has been knUwu
since, though the last Presidential campaign
may claim to have been the most unclean,
but each general election has had features
OF party excess that have had the effect of
washing ones dirty linen in the sight of the
public. There is a clear loss OF dignity, and
the nation here suffers in comparison with
other countries. This is one view Of the
situation.
There is another view, and in its light the
situation is changed. The loyalty of the
English people to Great Britain is largely
manifested in the enthusiasm for the royal
family. They are the living embodiment of
nationality. The nearest element in our
system for calling forth loyalty is the office
of President. He is chosen directly by the
people as a whole. The appeal Of the great
national conventions of each party is to the
whole people. When he acts independently
as the executive of the nation on some vital
issue he looks beyond party to the people at
large for his support. Again and again
have the people responded to the President
at such moments of suspense and made him
feel, as they felt, that the office of President
Of the United States is one of the most re
sponsible positions in which any living man
can be placed. He leads the nation.
The election of President is the occa-
sion for discussing national politics with far
greater thoroughness than is usual when
the policy of an administration has been
accepted. 1t amounts to quadrennial re.
view OF American politics. The discussion
of the tariff, which is the central issue be-
tween the two great parties to-day, pending
the choice Of President, it is the education
of the younger portion of the American
people in the large bearing of this question
upon our interests as nation. 1t is prac-
tcal school in which the future leaders of
the country are taking lessons in political
education. The tariff is in the air, it is the
constant discussion, and the channels of de.
bate are so manifold, and the issues reach
so intimately into the heart of every indus
try, and come so close home to the bread
and butter of the people that there is a uni
versal interest in the issue on which Presi-
dent Cleveland decided that the Presiden-
iial campaign should be conducted 1t is
in discussing this issue that men everywhere
are feeling anew that they are members of
u great and free commonwealth which each
one can be instrumental in shaping
There is still another point OF view in
which the election of a President may be
considered. 1t deals with national, instead
of local, politics. This gives the casting of
q vote for President an interest which throws
entirely in the shade the vote for Governor,
Mayor, or town offices. 1t touches the aver
age man where he comes directly into CON
tact with the nation. Itexpresses his mem.
bership in the United States. 1t puts him
on level with every other citizen, and is
in itself the best mark of citizenship 1t
calls out his loyalty as a man and makes
his heart knde with enthusiasm. The day
OF casting the presidential vote is one of our
most solemn, impressive and inspiring days
1t is when the heart of the nation beats al
most us the heart of one man, when, how
ever, one may differ from others in his DO
litical views, he rises to the point of patriot.
ism in the consciousness that he is Il vital
part OF the nation and one of the makers OF
the public opinion that gives it direction
This may seem but mere sentiment to some,
but it is a sentiment that has u wonderful
vitality in it. 1t is the point where the
nation rises into the form of distinct en-.
tty, and appeals most strongly to the com
mon consciousness of the people. When
one remembers how slight are the elements,
beyond mere sentiment, that constitute 10y.
atty to American ideas, how much the educa-
tional effect of our institutions is trusted for
the development of the national interest,
how much some universal national act has
to do with moulding our diverse peoples
into people inspired by the sense of their
common citizenship, it is easy to see that
there is no single duty that reaches farther
in our political system, or does more for the
creation of national feeling, than the act by
which each man declares himself to be n
freeman in the American republic