Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-18
Iusa il h,r.e1t
"THE NEW YEAR"
a Mugwumpia1 View OF the Raiitica
Outlsok IN 1883.
Harpel's Weekly, Dec. 81

Harpel's Weekly, Dec. 81.
The new year opens in which we asa 10
have presidentisl election. It comes
ofser-much too item for tna public
peace and welfare. An election once in
six years would be often enough, and it
would disturb the country and business
ae frequently rs il desirable. Elections
are good things. The constant political
attention and activity which they produce
are heslthful, andthe trouble and expense
are much more thsa set CI by the ad-
vantage, But that is 20 reason for 3
general election every week.
There is reason in roasting eggs,
eEd because presidential
election is q good thing, it does not follow
hat 1t would not be better every six
years than every four yesls. Inc ig;Dility
for reelection is also desirable. By
common consent and feeling which has
now Become en- imperative tradition, no
President must serve more than eight
years. A single term Of six years, there-
fore, would be merely q little shorter
Than that which the Judgment, Of TIE
country DEGREES as the longest term per
mlssable. a single tetm would tend to
abolish personal Intrigue of every kind TO
secure denomination. Ii would leave
the President free TO become what the
Constitution contemplated, and what
good sense and patriotism pre-
scribe, not O mere parts
leader, but y patriotic Chief Magistrate.
Under party system doubtless he would
be elected by z party and he would Gym
pathiz9 with the party principles and rec
cmmend and favor s policy wDich should
carry tht N into efSct. But he would
not be ten pied by hope or promiae OF
personal advantage 10 teke that part in
the details OF politics, to exert that di-
rect infiuei &c upon nominations and cleo
tons, which intelligent Americans feel to
be un5ecoming and fatal TO the first OBJ
jects OF elections.
This, however, is ca amehdmnet Of the
constitution which is not likely to COM
mand attention or action in a year when
President is q candidate for re election,
as Mr.. Cleveland viii undoub eddy be in
the year that is beginning. That he will
be g stronger candidate than he was in
1884 VIII hardly DE doubted 1t is IN
questionable that his vote would have
been very much larger then except for the
fear CT the possible consequences OF the
election OF g Democratic President. Dis
appointment with his reform course,
so far as 1t might affect vot-
ing, would much more than
set off oy the vote thai was withheld
from Mr.. Blsiue and q vote that given 20
him. but both which Will now be given 10
Mr. Cleveland. Ihs message will not
make protection snd revenus reform the
direct issues CT the election, because BE
Democratic House will net legialate 10
acc0rd with the message, IOr the Demo-
cratic psrty accept the Issue. The Pfesi-
dents views will be regarded IS his own,
like the temperance views Of Mr. Hayes,
and ii will DE still held that Mr.. Randall
is good Democ al who can urge the re-
election OF Mr.. Cleveland. TIE RepubIi-
CANS viii probably declare, unre-
seTvediy, the doctrine Of high pro-
lection for the sake of protec-
ton. BuS nc party can force an issue on
another. Mr.. Blaine IN 1884 made
series Of protection speeches. But Re-
puhlicans would be slow TO admit inst
protection was the issue CT the campaign,
because they must chen admit the country
TO be against them. The fact that the
Democratic drift is toward revenue re-
form does not establish the con-
ClusiCn that any contest between the
Democratic end Republican parties neces-
saTily involves free trade, and for the
simple reason thai the country sees that
it does not involve it. The public mind
is rejecting upon the question. But
it is complex question, emo
the country has not yer taken party
sides upon it. Until that is done it
will not be tbs chief issue Of 8 general
election. There is universal and we
believe welI-iounGed conviction that
there will be no injuri yus legislation upon
the subj act, and the country will not be
driven into deciding al election upon al
issue which does rot rel ally exist, and by
which parties afe rot divided.
Locking at the Republican side, Mr..
Blaine hiss deX:erously thrown himself
forward as The necessary candidate. Il
is iDgepiousiy done. For if, as the Re-
publican press shouts 10 chorus, the
President las made protection the issue,
what good reason can there be for putting
aside the candidate VINO, besides having
the largest following in the party, espec-
tally and distiEctiveiy represents the ie-
sue which tha part proclaim&? Can
there be any reason for rejecting him,
except one that no Republican who wish
es TO be thought orthodox daIes to
bresthe, namely, that for personal rea
scEs be cannot be elected? Mr.. Blaine is
as much master Of the Republican NOM
inStion SIS Mr.. Clay Of the Wing nomina-
tion il 1874, upon similar platform OF q
protective tariff and of q distribution Of
TIE surplus. The recent convention Of
Republican clubs, whatever its
real purpose showed clearly
enough the drift Of Republican
preference. The most significant and
suggestive fact in regard to the Repubii-
can party is Mr.. Biaine's ascendancy in
il. Does it sometimes occur to olc-fssb
Toned Republicans that that fact alone
will immensely affect the result Of the
election? Tnose who congratulate them
selves tbs. the Presidents message opens
s campaign which will be fought upon
great political issues, and not upon
Wretched personalities must not
forget that grave pubic offenses, or
conduct which reveals q want Of public
conscience, ar hot to be dismissed IS
wretched personalities, and will not be
treated as trivial. The character and Ca
reer Of the candidate are always and
necessarily an issue in the CANVASS.
"H0uest Abe Lincolni honest Abe Lin
coln," shouted Mr.. Judd in the Chicago
convention of 1860, as he shook his hands
at the New York delegation; and honest
Abe Lincoln was the inspiring Republic