The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-28

nomination, if % man who holds sucu
high place in the hearts Of his country
men as Mr.. Cleveland does cannot win
ii second term, future presidents will give
up trying. Every IN knows that the
president of the United STATES controls an
enormous patronage. We senators know
his power from daily contact with ii.
So vast is this patronage and Sc potent
is it in the affairs of the party that. ex-
cept in rare instances, the president who
determines to do SO may force his party
TO renominate him.
"A the same time, so many men are
inevitably offended at the manner in
which the patronage is given out that it
is becoming The firm belief of leading
public men Of both parties that under
ordinary circumstances u president can
not he reelected; for every maj that is
pleased by being given IN Office, a dozen
or a score and their friends and follow
ers are disappointed because they did
not get it. Democratic senators agree
that Cleveland would have carried New
York in 1883 if there had been no dis
satisfaction there concerning the man.
ner in which he had filled the Offices.
Republican senators are saying that the
chief obstacle to Harrison's reelection
would be dissatisfaction in New York. In
diana and other states growing out Of
the same cause. Merely for the sake of
party preservation leading men are argu-
ing in favor of Il single term.
But there is a higher and less selfish
reason, i'll my Judgment, why we should
have II single term i'll the presidential
office. Suppose an unprincipled, a des-
perate, reckless man had been in the
presidential Office when the CHILEAN trou-
BILE came ON. Suppose he had thought
the only way in which he could be re-
nominated and reelected was by bring
ing on IA war. amid whose excitement
and furore he could easily ride back into
power. 1t would have been the easiest
thing in the world for him to SO shape
matters as to make war inevitable. On
this point ! will give you a little inside
history of the CHILEAN matter. NY au-
tlority is IA member of the cabinet, who
stood very near to the president during
all that trouble. This cabinet officer
n day told me that if it were not for
the fact that II presidential election was
approaching in this country we should
certainly have had war with Chill.
He explained that the president was
50 sensitive to the charge that he was
trying to bring on war in order to per
petuate himself in power, that he cXcr-
ciscd much more moderation and pa-
thence than he would have done had he
not been II candidate for recollection. He
added that if war had come it was the
presidents purpose to decline IL renoIni-
nation III such unmistakable terms as
would have left no room for doubt Of
his sincerity.
1--WE want ii single term in the prcsi-
DENTAL office, so that III the discharge
of his duties II president will not be
tempted to bring on war, or the dan
ger of war. for the purpose of populariz-
ing himself; SO that he will not DE
tempted to use the patronage of his
office for the purpose of forcing his
party to renuminate him, and finally SO
that conflicts between the parties on the
great questions of the day need not he
complicated by the unpOpularity of one
Of the candidates growing out Of disap-
pointment i'll the matter of the Offices"
Your history inspires me with more
confidence than Your prophecy re-
marked | to my friend. But what else
do yon predict
During the coming administration
the Republicans will regain possession
of the house of representatives. They
will then nIllnuNlp. "a, ntl,t n f.,i.p,1
election law for the soulful force bill.
The Republican party is as much ON
united to TINS as II Is 10 protection. But
1t will fail because in the senate there
will appear an independent party, com
posed of prosilver Republicans from the
far west. Farmers Alliance and genuine
independents, who will oppose the force
bill and attempt to pass free silver in its
stead. This independent party in the
senat" will hold the balance of power in
that body and prevent n great deal Of
partisan legislation.
Looking farther into the future | can
see more parties. The Republican and
Democratic parties will continue to lead.
but there will be minor parties slough
ing of from the others ON new questions.
Socialism and opposition to centralized
wealth and plutocracy is To be II great
issue in America. Henry Georges sin
gle tax idea will soon become one ma
tiOnal issue. Canadian annexation will
he another. On the tariff question both
parties are to shift their positions and
their s~trOugholds. The Republicans will
become moderate protectionistS, with Il
penchant for throwing down the walls
and going To sea after foreign trade by
relaxation and special measures. The
Democrats will become an out and out
free trade party. Massachusetts and
New Hampshire, Illinois, Iowa and other
western states will in time Join Democ-
racy. West Virginia, Virginia, Tenmes-
see, Alabama and other southern states
will Lecome Republican.
And better than all, " concluded the
prophet, ''t"n years hence the ~iudcpcnd-
cnt, unattached but alert and intelligent
vote i'm this country led by am iudpnrll-