New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-11


ELIGIBILITY TO REELECTION.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial of this date on tine Better oa'-
look presents to me- reading between the lines, ar
grments In confirmation Of views held Tor many
years as 10 the benefits TO the country from ten
year Presidential incumbency. was tnird-teriner
when L. s. Grant In office. ana worked TOT hiih
in my limited way. believing them as 40 now
that constitutional safeguards. in America at least
sufficient for our liberties whether poh''cai' i
Ngious or social
My business experience goes back as cierh u
1850 and from 1855 a merchant, when sa"
the injury 10 business resulting from the quaoreh-
NAL election for the Presidency. In those days anu
before the railway systems were so extended the
business OF the country done In seasons So
called The Southerners purchased their supplies
and had them shipped to various coast points so
as 10 be ready for the two annual rises IN lne
rivers enabling the transportation 10 lar interior
points The Westerners were controlled 10y the
closing OF the Erie Canal and bought for It's closing
and opening dates. Railways with their uiuil''l
facilities and the development OF large interior
bases Of supply have changed all that THIS mas
proven advantageous in many ways especid'i! III
spreading the maturity Of credits through 'he year
instead OF centralizing them IN OCTOBER anu No
vember as was the case then, with the atehuan'
snxet,es which old merchants so well remember
The evil resulting from quadrennal eecuoh peri
nds remains Under It's operation there are TWO as
turbing causes TO the welfare OF all business Inc
first IS the political agitation In the year preceding
a National election; this is ever disturDihg' hdi
y,I factor In business, a statement which every
business man in the country will confirm Ana this
disturbance continues through the year following
an installation Thus we have but three years or
that peace which Is essential to prosecution OF
business enterprise. Were the Presidential term
extended TO a period OF ten years coinciomg' II
YOU please with the period and the incumbent
nv tatn
of business quietude would be extended correspond
fngly and with happiest results TO all enterprises
BY an unwritten law the term of four years can
be- ard often has been, extended to eigh' years
of office Tradition alone limits II to eight IL may
be more II the people will 1t to be-
II. therefore a man cannot imperil the Nation
in eight years. he cannot do much in that direction
An two wears more and with statutory limitations
as TO terms of Office indicated. the ambition OF
an Acibiades would be controlled, and no man can
leave legacy OF ambition Tor successor, IN
behalf Of another ,,., ,,s
The of service in the leglsatye nrs
minor Quantities as disturbing influences on busi-
and this extended period , al 10 pecy
strengthen National bonds Il do not mean interest
bearing ,Sep ees 'e and IN general result in such
positive public welfare as would convince an .. us
tarssts would remain as now differences them as
now. Would exist, and these would find expression as
ecutive action under existing restrictions; .
Democratic or Republican. whenever the rule IN
the Executive would be controlled by the consul
tuition and the laws hereunder: no personal am
bttion could affect liberty and with me uIeGrapn
billions. and untrammeed schools Of thought, that
ceaseless vigilance which all OF these agencies ex-
ercise in defence of liberty would prove SAFE
guard which no Caesar could trample down
The ability of the people to overthrow any dynas-
tic or oligarchic rule has been sufficiently proven
IN this State by the deposition OF Tammany ana It's
associated wings on wider field has been 81, shown
by the RELOCATING that outer darkness and the So
ciey of the five foolish virgins that party IN Con-
credulous voters, proved false to promises ana
trust and have their reward. And with the growth
of the sentiment so rapidly permeating the Repuo-
Ucan party-its natural exponent-of America Tor
Americans there Is little reason TO fear that any
potical PARTY whether on or off q religious foun-
dalton can imperil American liberties under an Ex-
ecutive decennial tenure OF ONCE ,,n,o>.
NORMAN d. SAMPSON.
Brooklyn, March I. 1895.