Evening star., 1896-06-18

Most of the trouble at st. Louis seems to
he over the vice-presidential nomination.
There is nothing rash in the statement
that whatever there is OF confusion is due
to the observation-disclosures of the Office,
which is now nothing more than sop to
be thrown into the most cIamorous mouth.
This condition has been cIeverly sketchsd
by John J. Ingalls, who after many years
of residence in the slougn of politics now
stands on the solid rock of journalism and
makes open confession as TO the misdeeds
and shortcomings OF those with whom he
once associated.
IN the Early days of the republic" saws
the ex-senator. there We're great vice
presidents-Burr. Adams and Calhoun-but
hy the subtle changes in our political sys-
tenn the office has steadily declined in esti-
nation and Importance till it has become
a place administered to appease a sulIen
antagonist propitiate a doubtful To-
CaIity"
Great men have held the position, it is
trIe, but 1t cannot be contended that the
position was ever regarded as desirable by
any OF the political giants who have filled
H. Inc opinion of John Adams-to whom
MI ingalls, refers-is well-known to those
VINO nave studied the early history of the.
republic In a letter to Benjamin Rush.
written December 10, 1913, he thus put him
self record:
but my country has in it's wisdom con-
tfiSed FOR me the most insignificant offi.e
.idt ever the invention of man contrived
VI MS imagination conceived. And as I can
90 neither good nor evil L must he horne
t"ay by others. and meet the common
fate " 'o'iiiiiol
Ihe great man evidently did not appre
claie the little office
more than three years before the writing
"t that epistle the great John Adams
dd spoken in a manner most unconnIi
Ii-ehtafy to the place and its environments
IL was in letter to Rush that he said:
= wish Very heartily that a change If
ice PRESIDENT could lie made touorrow
rave been too i1l-used in the office to he
iCnd OF 1t. Il had not been introduced into
III IN manner that made it a disgrace I
VIII never serve in it again upon such
terms. sum
Inc comparative uselessness of the Off
calf not of the office-has long been an
Parent TO every thoughtful American, but
there has not been any strenuous effort To
amend the vice-president's status by Civ
ing to his place the dignity it surely ought
TO have Mr. Ingalls, but expresses what
Is known to every one conversant with
governmental affairs when he says:
Ihe office is honorable 1t has dignity
us yoke is easy and its burden is light
he compensation is ample. To a man of
fortune IL affords exceptional opportunities
Tor social distinction. Its duties are en-
tlrely optional The incumbent need never
attend a session of the Senate except TO
take the oath of office. and his absence
would neither be noticed nor felt. In the
Il aJor1ty of instances the public business
would proceed better without him than
with MIN That he might not ap-
pear to be waiting at the Capitol for the
fatality that alone could put the sceptre in
his hands. like a spendthrift impatient for
the demise of his ancestor. it became nee
esSary to give the vice-president some pub
lie function to apparently Justify his ex-
iStenCe. and ne was made the President of
the Senate He might as we'll have been
Speaker of the House. Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court. or Governor of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and historically would
have been as well qualified for one the
other.
Is there any reaSon-other than that the
v:Ce-president at times represents faction
antagonistic to that led by the President
why the vice-presidental office should not
be OF more than contingent Importance?
Is there anything that would prevent the
President inviting the vice-president to sit
at his council-tabie and have a voice in
The discussions and 4 vote whenever a vote
is necessary? The proposition is worthy of
consideration.