The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-02-10
ONE TERM FOR PRESIDENT
BY c. R. BUCSALEv.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.


government; but it does mean that
changes will be deliberately and
reasonably made. A great part OF the
officers subject to presidential ap
pointment have four years limitation
of term BY statute, and We know by
experience that a great many changes
among them are made by two term
ei presidents as their terms expire, in
addition to removals for cause. and
filling OF vaca lcies cccasioned by death
resignation, and promotion to higher
grades; bu, the wild rush for Office
consequent upon the election Of 4
new president need not be precipita;ed
upon the country oftener than once IN
eigh, wears when selection must be made
with lightning rapidi,y and without due
investigation and care. In fact the
Civil Service laws which are imperfect
in operation and may be set aside in
any case by the removing power OF the
president, have been in great part
caused and are mainly defensible be
cause OF rapid changes in the pTcsi-
dental office. Two terms for presi-
dent in fact to a great extent, dlspen-
ses with their necessity and usefulness.
5. 1t is very strong objection TO the
one term rule thatit keeps The country in
a perpetual turmoil in selecting can
6idates for president
Under it there can be no pause, no
breathing time between periods OF
agitation and electioneering for the
nomination and election OF an incum-
ben, OF our greatest office. As soon
as a presidens is inaugurated the race
for the succession will begin between
rival candidates and all the proceed
ing and business OF government will
be affected thereby durin, the running
of the presidential term. Factions
favoring particular candidates will
arse in Congress, and executive ap-
poin,ments and senatorial assent to
them will become connected with po.
iitcal intrigue and management for
the presidentIa succession. Such will
be the inevitable effect to great eN-
ten, within the party Of the admins
tration, while the tactics OF an oppos.
ing party will be influenced thereby
perhaps not In the direction OF public
interest
9th. One term belittles the presi
Dental Objects reputation and use
frlness-i,s moral power and influence
without detracting from or lessen,
ing Its legal authority and power. And
this authority and power will be less
likely to be directed to noble and pa
triorc ends than they would be ii the
president himself were possible can
didate for Te election.
In sho': /, IS not i good thing for
the people 70 be compelled by the one
term rule. to be all the time looking
about for 4 candidate for president,
when not actually engaged in the ousi
ness Of eieciing MIN.
There should be powerful reasons
TO induce the people 10 place a curb
upon themselves in the selection OF
president. Why should they bind
themselves by constitutional provision
not TO choose 4 most H., noble, and
able man for the second time 70 their
highest Office. especially if I single
term of service is made TO Be one OF
sholt duration? Sell denying ordin-
ances" OF this kind imposed by popular
bodies upon themselves, have not
generally had the approval OF exper-
ience and OF history; al all events in
our present case we should not take
the yoke upon our shoulders without
the most indubitable proof OF the wis
dom and necessity OF doing so.
To mitigate the objections TO one
term-ism and recommend it to the
people, lengthening OF the term to
six years is proposed. But does not
this make bad worse and add new
grounds OF objection to the change ?
The men who made the constitution
put no limit whatever, upon the peo-
pie as to the number OF times success
sively they might vote for and elec,
a president, but they did, for very
good reasons limit a single term of
service to a period Of four years in
order that the Office might be kept
under popular control and responsible
lity. They doubtless intended and ex
pected that good president should
be reelected without determining
more than once or not. From
their point OF view, to be taken by US,
the vote for re-elec,ing a president
was and is - vote of confidence in
him and his party emitting him 10 90
on with the business OF executive
government for another limited period.
In some respects the vote for or
against a president for 4 second term,
IS like vote o: confidence in an
existing administration taken upon fit
occasion in an English House of Com. |
mons or a French Chamber of Dcpu-
ties, uDOn which the fate of an eyistinr |