The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-09
Too Much Politics.

The Tribune that we nave TOO nucn
politics in this country. 1t says: a
people who govern their own country
cannot have too much politics. And
think of having to wait ten years to
correct the awful mistake made in 1892.
The fathers OF the republic had u pretty
good idea of how to fix things for a
nation whose welfare depends on the
political education and action Of the
masses"
Our suggestion of decennial national
campaigns was of course not meant
seriously; nevertheless we are serious
in the belief that no legitimate public
interest would suffer if the number Of
political campaigns through which the
American people have to pass every de-
cade were reduced one-half. a single
term presidency with the term length
ened to six or eight years, fewer ses-
sions of congress and state legisla-
lures: five-year terms for mayors and
corresponding lengthening of the terms
of other elective municipal officers
might sometimes cause popular un-
easiness in cases wherein the people
had been grossly deceived; but this de-
crease in the frequency of elections
would be likely to result in an increased
sense of responsibility on the part of
electors and diminished liability to
gross mistakes. 1t would have also the
counter balancing virtue of retaining
good men in Office longer than they are
now retained; and if, recurring to our
contemporary reference to 1892, Presi-
dent Harrison's term had been eight
instead of four years, and the Mckinley
bill could have had four more years of
fair trial, it is reasonable, we think, to
infer that the awful mistake of 1892"
would not have occurred, either in 1892
or at any subsequent period.
If selfish considerations alone were to
govern, politicians and journalists
stead of less politics, because political
activity is to both usually a source of
profit. They stand in much the same
relation to political campaigns that
plies do to military campaigns; yet it
will hardly be held that for the benefit
of the latter, mankind ought to keep
continually at war. The fact is that
political campaigns has been entirely
valueless in any permanent sense, and
has had for its real cause simply the
anxiety of politicians for employment.
Fewer campaigns would mean that
those which should be held would be
mere decisive. There would not be that
same invitation which now exists for a
fluent public opinion to go at inclina-
tion to any given extreme secure in the
knowledge that if the experiment
should not pan out 1t could soon be re-
scinGed. We venture to say that no re-
Elective man can contemplate the vio-
lent fluctuations i'm public opinion
which have characterized our politics
since 1890 without experiencing a sense
of shock to his inherited belief that
government of, by and for the people
is the best and safest government on
earth. We consider that much of this
popular instability is the direct out
growth of an excess Of small politics
Given, fewer elections and theJe with
more significance to them than ordin-
arily attaches to the function of de-
termining whether John Doe. the Re
publican, or Richard Roe, the Demo-
crat, shall draw the salary and pocket
the perquisites of the public office, and
there would. we suspect, be more seri-
Gus thought among the electors and a
safer and more representative express
sion of public opinion.
Finally, multiplied elections mean
disturbed business. The business mai
can adjust his affairs to any line of
political policy If given time and orpcr-
tunity. He can make money under Il
high or under low tariff, if enabled to
| make his calculations and contracts ac-
cordingly, with the certainty that when
made these will not need to be changed
before the ink on them Is dry. But
there is small assurance of requisite
security so long as an excited populace
is reversing itself every two or four
years; and until there is ample assur-
ance. business will not revive.
Reversing numerous predictions to
the contrary. some made within the
week, Colonel Mcclure now remarks:
Mckinley has broken Reeds forces in
New England by practically carrying
New hampshire and Vermont; he is
rapidly dividing the Morton delegation
in New York; he will have consider
able portion of the Pennsylvania dele
cation after a complimentary vote for
Quay: he has unhorsed Harrison in In
diana: he has dowred Cullorl in Illi-
nois: he has whipped Davis in Minne-
SOtff. he has hra in .ctot,tad Mapdo,.o.