The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-05-02
A CENTURY OF EXECUTIVE POWER.

On Tuesday appropriate obser-
vances, celebrating the centennial of
the inauguration of George Wash
ington as the first president Of these
United States, were made in Wins
ton and other cities of North Car
DINA and in nearly all the cities of
this glorious and indestructible I'm
ion.
But the chief event of the kind
was the National celebration at New
York, which began Tuesday and
ended yesterday. 1t was big thing.
There were pomp and pageantry-
military display on land and great
naval review in New York harbor.
The details of the celebration come
too late for US to devote much space
to them in this issue of THE SENTI-
MEL.
The centennial observances closed
Wednesday with an industrial and
civic parade. The central event was,
of course, Presidents Harrison's
address at the sub-treasury in COM
memoration of Washington's in
augural address at the same place
hundred years before. Its signifi-
canoe lies in the fact that it marked
the close of a century of executive
power. Has the office Of President
retained to the present time the
character for dignity and impartial
ity the first incumbent impressed
upon it? In the contest for pre-
eminence in the government which
the Senate has So long been waging
has the President maintained the
degree of independence allotted to
him by the constitution Is his
position to-day, whether from the
traditions of the office or from the
practical working Of our constitu-
ton, sufficiently like that of Wash
ington hundred years ago to prove
the substantial permanency of our
institutions?
These are questions which every
one asked who listened Tuesday at
the sub-treasury to the poems and
orations of the occasion. The an
swers vary perhaps to some extent
with the political basis Of the persons
questioned. There was general agree
ment, doubtless, that what the faith
ers most feared-the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of the Executive by the absorption
of the functions of the legislative
and judicial branches of the govern
ment-has not occurred. The Pre-
sident of to~day is by some inches
less a king than the President of
1889. Congress has at times
for example, during President Johns
sons administrations a
large share of executive power, and
to this day the Senate; by unduly
stretching its constitutional right to
"advise and consent in respect to
nominations to office and treaties,
encroaches upon the presidential pre-
rogative, and in effect degrades the
presidential office.
Appointments are not made as
they should be, wholly at the discre-
ton of the President, with the "ad-
vice and consent" of Senators as to
the fitness of nominees, but the
spoils-seeking Senators insist on die
tatlng appointments. So far has
this tendency proceeded that the pre-
sent Executive in making appoint
ments has found it necessary to ae-
cept the nominees of Representatives
and Senators instead of himself taxi
ing the initiative.
The action of the Senate during
Mr.. Cleveland's term in rejecting
the Canadian treaty for partisan
reasons solely and causing the fail
ure of the Chinese treaty, without
regard for the public interest, was
an arrogant proceeding well calcu-
lated to bring the executive function
into contempt, unless rebuked by
the people. It is in the interest of
the people that the rights Of each
branch of the government as defined
by the constitution should be duly
respected.
Washington, in his inaugural adj
dress, found guarantees for the
proper working of our government
in the high character and abilities of
the Senators and Representatives of
his day. "In these honorable quail,
fcations I behold" he said, "tbe
surest pledges that, as on one side no
local preiudices or attachments, no
separate views, no party animosities,
will nlisdirect the commemorative and