The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-13
A PRACTICAL REFORM.

OF lengthenlDg the presidential term and
making President ineligible for re-
election. The proposition is not a new
one. 1t has been discussed at various
times in the press and in Congress, but
has never been submitted to the legis-
latures of the States, as it would have to
be to secure the necessary amendment
to the Constitution.
The arguments in favor of the change
are pretty familiar to intelligent per.
sons and are such as would probably
commend themselves to most, if not all,
of the State legislatures. The two
strongest are: First, the disturbing
effect on business of such frequent cleo
tions and changes of administration and
government policy; and. second. the
danger that a President will use the
power and patronage of the office to Sc
cure his denomination and reelection.
1t cannot be denied that much weight
attaches to both of these arguments,
though, perhaps, more to the latter than
to the former. 1t is true that our quad
rennial elections keep the country in a
ferment of politics a great deal of the
time. A President is hardly warm in
his seat before the leaders and managers
on both sides begin to scheme in regard
to the successorship. In less than two
years after his Inauguration the press is
full of speculations on the same subject.
The election of Speaker of the House,
the formation OF committees and all the
legislation of Congress are largely
affected, if not controlled by it. Pres
emily, everything in our political and
public life becomes subordinate to it.
Then come the national nominating
conventions. followed by an exciting
campaign and election. These various
incidents keep the country in ferment
about three fourths of the time and can
not fail to have disturbing effect on
business. This argues in favor of ex-
tending the term.
The strongest argument in favor of
making the President ineligible for a
second term is the danger that he will
use the power and patronage of the
Office to secure his denomination and re-
election. or if he does not do this DELHI
erately that his administration will be
unconsciously warped by desire for
second term. Even if he is strong and
honest enough to resist the temptation
he is sure to be charged by the opposi-
end, and. so far as the moral effect ia
concerned, this is almost as bad as if he
did il. If large part of the people be-
lieve or suspect that President is using
his office to secure his denomination or
reelection the effect on politics is about
as bad as if he actually did it. Proba-
bly, no President ever acted. moro con-
scientiously in this regard than Presi-
dent Harrison has done, or was less OBJ
n0xious to the charge of using the Office
been charged with it. In truth, the
temptation is so great and tho oppor-
tunity so obvious that no Presiden. can
ever expect to escape the charge unless
he is nominated on platform which
opposes a second term or he himself
voluntarily declines denomination in
advance. 1t would be better to settle
the matter by constitutional amendment
than leave it tn either of these chances.
The evils that might come upon the
country through the conduct of an am
bilious and INSCRIPTIONS President de-
termined to secure his own reelection
are too obvious and threatening to leave
the matter to chance.
Four years is not long enough for the
development OF an administrative policy.
The business of the country cannot ad-
just itself to any policy in that length of
time, and some regard must be paid to
business interests, even if majority of
the voters, as the recent election shows,
care nothing for them. Indeed, the un-
certainties of popular suffrage and the
recklessness with which q majority of
the people will vote to overturn existing
conditions and reverse established poll
cies is strong reason why business in
terests should be protected by a consti-
tutional amendment making it impossi-
bic to change oftener than once in six
years. But in any case four years is not
long enough for the development of an
administrative policy. 1t was not long
enough for the vindication of the Nc
Kinley bill. and it will not be long
enough for the full development of the
Democratic policy of tariff for revenue
only, if they have the courage to adopt
it. Six years is short enough time for
any party to have control of the govern
ment and do itself any sort of justice.
The best or the worst qualities of an ad-
ministration cannot be developed in four
years.
There Is reason to believe that ma
iority of the thinking. intelligent people
of the country are in favor of the change
indicated, and that, if submitted, to tho
State legislatures, it would be adopted.
Congress ought to submit it, and it
should do so in time to have the matter
settled before another presidential cleo
tion.
GOOD SUGGESTION.