The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1889-06-12

PU1kUlSthA OLAlOC1,s - u5dSk lily tAQACtAs LII
performing the duties Of President,
they acquire a thorough knowledge
Of the functions, cond itions and needs
Of the government. AS the faithful
pilot, at the helm, directing the
course Of a richly laden ship, they
examine every part Of the structure
and rigging. This experience pre-
eminently fits them for legislating
wisely. Thoroughly informed, they
can act intelligently But an mex
perienced man is like an unskilled
mariner on aitempestuons sea. Id his
endeavor to follow popular opinion,
Ne I'D driven hither and thither BY
every changing breeze until he 1inal-
" becomes political wreck.
We're the ex- Presidents made SEN
ators for life, they might benefit the
people by their experience Their
salaries would sometimes avert their
own financial embarrassments, while
their services would more than re-
pay the government Indeed, by
their foresight in opposing extrava-
CANT expenditures, they might save
many times the amount of their sal
aries. "a.
They would have no party to court
no political ambition to- crafty.
Vain would be the flourish of the
party lash over their heads. I'm
trammeled by fear Of failure to be
reelected, they could afford to be
more independent and to take less
partisan view than others. Their
ambition has been gratifed. They
have held the highest attainable po-
sition. Stimulated by purely pa
triotic motives, they would labor ex-
clusively for the welfare Of the ns7
ton, the perfection and glory of our
government. (. /
Presiding over the whole country
and working for the common veal
greatly removes sectional prejudices.
There is no other position whose du-
ties SO etfectually accomplish this,
and necessitate such broad and com
prehensiye views. I
There is great need in the Senate
of conservative element such as
would be afforded by the presence
of several ex- presidents. Hence the
proposition accords with the design
OF fthe Senate which is, AZ 1lentsl
Ahaxs fegnar0 against tle ilAs
hnentA u Sl50, Ia a. lIeat
and passion prevalent occasionally
in the most enlightened assemblies
The characteristic requirements Of
the Senate are wisdom and stability.
In these days Of blind partisanship,
the dominant party is sometimes In
clined, for unpatriotic purposes, to
trancend it's legitimate authority.
At such times, the deliberate views
Of a few men Of eminent ability
would have great weight, and when
party lines are strictly drawn, their
votes would often prevent partisan
measures, ~ n j.
Strong reasons have been urged
for making the terms of Senators
more than six years. Danger of &C.
cumnlating power has prevented it.
By making ex-Presidents Senators
for life, there being SO few at one
time, the advantages might be at
tanned without fear Of the danger,
Had this course been adopted with
the Constitution, Washington would
have served as life-senator two years;
jefferson seventeen years; Quincy
Adams eighteen years; Grant nine
years; and others a greater or less
time Surely those who gave exist
ence totthe government, supported it
in weakness, and shielded it in periIs
would not prove less loyal in the
halls Of the Senate. With patriots
zeal they would acknowledge this
appreciation of their services. With
renewed stimulus, they would take
their posts as safeguards to the Re.
public. It is inconsistent with the
best interests of the government to
Danish from politics,iife as we virtual
~ do, our ex- Presidents in the prime
of manhood and full maturity of
their faculties. This is not as the peo-
pie wish. Itswere fan. better to secure
to them such rank and position as
wouldn only show, our'appreciation'
Of their past services, but also enable
them still to render service which
they, most eminently. of all our
countrymen, are capable of render
ing to their country. To incorporate
their wisdom in legislative acts is
better than to erect marble slabs to
their memory. Thus, without intro
ducing any attendant evils, we!may
secure all the advantages Of heredi-
tary over democratic governments.
But there are objections to the prop
osition. Some of these are. superb
cial; others are important and de-
mand careful consideration.
; First: It is urged that it is I'M
constitutional. It would necessitate
amending the constitution. The ma
TONS wisdom is clearly shown. by
its aversion for this. But if 1t be
evident that, in "a proposed amend
ment, the benefits derived outweigh
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