The National tribune., 1891-01-01

The plain English Of this is that the In
dians should be removed from the charge
Of the Interior Department, and given over
TO the care of the Army, and in this idea
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE heartily ConcuTs.
-s-
EN-PEESIDENTS AS LIFE SENATOR'S.
Gov. Hill fayors giving ex-Presidents a
lile-seat in the Senate, with the salary at
tached. This plan is frequently urged, but
1t never takes strong hold on the public
mind, and it is safe to say that it viii never
become part Of the law Of the land. While
some very true things can be said in favor
of it many more can be said against it, and
If the reasons in lis favor were much stronger
than they are, the exceeding difficulty there
is always found in getting our people to
agree to Constitutional amendments would
still be fatal to it.
The first thing people will ask is, Why, if
an ex-President is to 20 into the Senate,
should not an Ex-Governor 20 into the State
Senate and an ex-Mayor into the Board of
Aldermen for life? 1t is precisely the same
principle extended through all branches.
The next thing is that it is Numerically
opposed to the whole theory of our Govern
ment Our theory is that this is a Govern
ment OF the people, and by the people. We
select one Of our citizens to do certain duties
for us for time, and after he has finished
the work allotted to him he retires again to
the body of citizenship from which he was
taken. If he is required to perform other
duties he is again chosen for that specific
purpose. The only exceptions to this gen
eral system, it seems to us, should be in the
case of Judges, soldiers, sailors, and police
men. These classes Of public servants are
required to perform duties which involve
the most serious consequences TO themselves
IN person or property. Judges are required
to Withstand all the temptations to enrich
themselves when they have the disposal of
millions Of property belonging to litigants.
1t is necessary that they should be fortified
in their integrity by knowing that if they
discharge their duties faithfully, they nor
their families shall be allowed to come to
want, but be cared for for life by an adequate
salary. We therefore believe that all
Judges, from the rank of Common Pleas
upward, should be given much better sala-
ries than they now receive, and hold their
Offices during good behavior. Public SER
wants representing the strong arm of Gov
ernment-sOldiers, sailors, and police
should be given a life-tenure of their places,
with continuance of their pay in case of dis
ability incurred in line Of duty. This is to
certain extent the system that prevails,
but it should be made more secure. We can
not honestly ask any man to risk life and
limb for our protection without assuring him
that, so far as money can do it, we will pro-
vide against any harm that may result to
him from such SERVED
But none of these things apply to ex-
Presidents. They take an Office which is a
glittering prize 10 any man. The exercise
Of its power brings infinitely more satisfac-
ton than personal detriment. After man
has left the White House he is not untitled
by reason of its occupancy for any other
pursuit. If the people of his State want
him for Senator they can elect him, and he
will take his place on an exact level with
other Senators. John Q. Adams entered the
House Of Representatives after his term sx-
pired, add finally died there. Massachu-
sets never had better Representative than
he made. Monroe died Justice Of the
Peace, and'we believe that he made good
one.
To put ex-Presidents in the Senate would
still further diminish that body's repre-
sentative character, and the people are COM
planning that it has already much too little
of this.
But it is hardly worth while discussing
the plan. 1t has simply no chance of ever
being carried out.