The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-03

our government have questioned the wis
dom of second term for the president,
not simply from dread that it would
tempt the executive to use his power and
his opportunity to intrigue for renomi-
nation. and thus warp his official action
from its highest and most patriotic moor
ings. but from the fear that with or without
the presidents approval and in despite of
it the office-holding class would seek to
control the national convention or at least
prejudice its decision by their presence
personally as delegates or by the presence
of confidential vassals armed with the
proxies of patronage. This fear was not
ill founded, for today without any effort
or instigation or approval of the president
it is reported that the S96 delegates to the
Minneapolis convention include nearly if
not quite 100 federal office-holders.
The original conviction of the conven-
ton, which framed the federal constitution,
expressed by its deliberate vote at the
end of thorough discussion. was for
single term of six or seven years without
eligibility for reelection; the four years
term and the allowance of eligibility were
not approved until near the end of the
session. The republic of Brazil, the latest
republic to initiate our constitution, has
reafirmed the first and the most careful
judgment of our convention by giving her
president term of six years and forbid
ding his reelection. As a matter of fact,
it is almost impossible under our form of
government to prevent federal officers
from becoming almost controlling force
for the denomination of president, with
or without the approval of the executive
who appointed them.
The first President Harrison, in his
message condemning second term,
quotes President Jefferson in support
of his view. President Jackson, in
his first message, advised that
the president be made ineligible and that
his term be six years, and twice afterwards
he repeated this advice and urged consti-
tutional amendment to make it effective.
James Buchanan in 1929 opposed con-
stitutional amendment allowing only one
term to the president. Presidents Tyler,
Polk and Pierce sought by appointments
to build up party for reelection. Fill
more privately expressed himself at one
time as opposed to second term, but
finally stood for denomination. Presi-
dent Cleveland officially repeated the
warnings of Jefferson, Jackson and the
first President Harrison against second
term, but afterwards intrigued most ener-
getically and unscrupulously for renomi-
dent Hayes and Samuel ]. Tilden all con-
demned second terms. Tilden said that
"no reform of the civil service will be
complete and permanent until the presi-
dent is constitutionally disqualified for
second term" United Stated Senator
Proctor. late secretary of war. has. We be-
lieve, expressed himself as opposed to
second term and in favor of single term
of six years.
The hope of a reelection cannot but
dull the finest patriotic edge of pres-
Dental service, even with most
honorable, upright and scrupulous states
man. The objection that it is contrary to
our republican theory to restrict the pop
ular choice by declaring president ineli-
gible to second term has no force, for
under the present constitution of the
United States, even il the whole people
demanded it, the most gifted man in
America could not be elected president if
| o. not 81 years of age: or (2) not for four
teen years resident within the United
States; or (S) not q native-born citizen
not having been a citizen when the consti-
ton was adopted: nor az can the electors
of any state vote for two persons for pres
ident and vice president both of whom are
| inhabitants of the same state as them
| selves The right of choice on part of the
| people from the beginning has been con-
| stitutionally restricted; there is no ahso-
| lutte freedom of choice.