The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-08-31
THE MORAL INFLUENCE AND
COST OF PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGNS. ~

p0uuiuB 6i6ctiOl In November next.
Most other subjects OF PUBLIC opinion
will for a time be held in allegiance, OBJ.
truding only incidentally and giving
place to the all-absorbing Presidential
question. The subjects which will be
the leading themes of discussion in the
public journals will not be of the most
refining and elevating kind. Tha gen.
eral tone of morals is not likely to be-
improved as the result of a political
The history of the past
shows it generally to have been de-
moralizing; the political stump-speak.
or is ap. to ascribe to his favorite can.
didate virtues which he never possess.
ed, and which even the best friends of
the candidate were ignorant of. So.
too, candidates in nomination for Office
are often charged with offences that
are entirely fictitious-offences which
they and their friends hear for the
first time. The atmosphere of party
politics is by no means as foul as it
once was. but it still needs much puri,
fcatiOn.
After the close of the Presidential
election four years ago, in view. of the
intense excitement which. for two.
months had agitated the country, the
question was discussed in ONE prom
inent public journals. what method
could De adopted to attain the neees-
sary end with less public connection
1t was alleged that the long and excit.
ing campaign had produced derauge-
ment, stagnation in business, and the
decentralization which follows such a
course of proceedings. The inquiry
was therefore legitimate. whether
there was not better way to carry on
the purposes of the government and
save the country the vast expenditure
incident to Presidential election. If
the old maxim still holds true, slime
is money!" it costs many millions of
money to conduct one of these cam.
paigns. which occur every four years.
1t takes money and time from the farm.
er. the mechanic, and from all classes
engaged in industrial pursuits, hence
the absolute cost goes largely into the
millions. Several plans were suggest.
ed, one of which was the extension of
the Presidential term to six years; but
the advantages for this are about
equal. and nothing would be gained by
such a change. Another was, the
election of the President for life, citing
for example the Judges of the U. S.
Supreme Court, the highest judicial
Offices in the Republic, who hold for
life. But whatever might be the
merits Of this plan. the people of this
country would never consent to make
the President life.tenure Office. Some
suggestions on this subject appeared
In the Milwaukee Sentinel soon after
the last Presidential election which at.
tracted notice. and were given publica.
ton in the TELEGRAPH. Accidentally.
in looking over files of our paper, they
were seen and are reproduced. The
editor Of the Sentine! spent several years
in Switzerland, as American Minister.
and had the best advantages for judg.
ing of the working of the Swiss sys.
tenn of government. The following
are tile main features as given:
"The Swiss, instead of vesting the
whole executive power of their nation
al government in one man, give it to q
council of seven members, who are
chosen by the national legislative BODY
at its first session after an election.
Each member of this council has an
equal voice in public affairs, and the
majority decides. Each one of them
Is also the head of one of the depart.
ments of the government. Elected by
the legislative body for a term coin
cident with that Of its own members,
the legislature and the executive are
likely to be in political accord. This
system has prevailed in Switzerland
since 1S4S, and has worked admirably.
It Is true Switzerland is a small, while
ours is great country; but it is com.
posed of twenty-five different states.
with a population that includes three
different races and Languages, between
whom there is considerable diversity
OF interests. and a great diversity Of
sentiment. If we are to make any
change in the present system, the
Swiss executive offers an example
more in harmony with Republican in
stitutiOns than that of a President for
lifan