Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-01-22


The principle of iuelgibility Tor a second
term has always been coupled with the /
to lengthen the term. Though
less important. it is perhaps not an un- ,
natural correlative of the other In the
the question was between a
longer term without reeligibility and a
shorter one with it. The latter was re-
garded as the equivalent of the former, las
it was it was expected that President,
if worthy, would ordinarily be reelected.
and such was generally the rule during
the first half century. Now it is the ex-
ception. Frequent Presidential elections
disturb the business interests OF thecoun-
try, which i'll their present complicated
have become very sensitive to
changes. At the foundation of the Gov
eminent these interests were compare
lively simple. Labor was largely its own
employer, audit relations were rot easily
more often than now combined in one.
Telegraphs and railroads were unknown.
The developing resources of the country
had not yet brought with them the i'll
creased complexity of business relations
between the different sections, and espeCi-
ally between this country and foreign
Manifestations that now exist and are
SO quickly affected by the shifting for
tunes of politics. Competition had not
become the fierce var of recent years.
Not so nicely adjusted, business relations
were not So easily disturbed. The intiu-
ence OF Presidential election upon the
business interests of the country was not
contemplated by the trainers of the con-
stitution. They thought of the Executive
and his election only in the relation to
the Government they were forming.
They contemplated the Executive as a
factor of that Government. They did
not consider the effect upon the governed
of the process of electing him. Today, i'll
manner unforeseen by them, the Presi-
Dental election raises the utmost havoc
with all business interests. The unrest
and lack of confidence in the business cir
Giles truthfuly reflect the uncertainty of
the result of each election.
Furthermore, the time taken up by a
campaign, and the expense incident there
to are matters of no small moment aside
from the disastrous effects upon the bust
ness interests. | realize that campaign
funds are enveloped in a haze ohscurity
and that in speaking of them | am tread
ing upon delicate ground; but it is safe
to say that the expense of a campaign
has increased many fold in the last
twenty years. Grants first campaign
| fund is said to have been $150,00O, but
now it would require more figures to ex
press the amount devoted to campaign
purposes.
1t has been suggested that the change
might lengthen the term of a bad Presi.
dent, but there is not SO much strength
in the objection as there might seem. We
have not often, if ever, had bad Presi
| dents, and there would be much less dan
ger of getting one with a slx-year term
than there is now with iour-year term
for there would be longer time Tor the
policy of the preceding Administration
to have fair trial and be approved or con
demned by the deliberate judgment of the
people, and there would be much less
danger of hasty political revusions. l
we were SO unfortunate as to have ar
undesirable President who did not com
mand the confidence and respect OF the
people his power would soon be checked
by the Congressional aud Senatorial elec
/ tons; and il we were so unfortunate a:
to have corrupt President, a calamity
which has never yet occurred, he would
always be subject to impeachment.
Even if wise i'll the beginning, changed
conditions, our growth in population
especially in the cities, the great increase
in our territory, and the growing dan
ger of sudden popular reaction make the
change advisable as matter of safety
1t is not radical or revolutionary
change, but one in the line of true con
servatism. 1t is a change in the letter o.
the Constitution to preserve its spirit
1t is more in accord with the ideas and
purposes of the trainers of the Constitu
ton than are the practical results that
have developed from the present system
The extension of the terms OF Represen
tatives in Congress should go with the
extension of the Presidential term. The
practical benefits sure to result from this
change and the advantages Oft to legis
lation are self-eyident. Now the Repre-.
sentatives have hardly concluded their
first session before they come up for re.
election. This long session must neces,
sarily become longer with the growth OF
the country. The legislation of the long
session has had no trial, and often, | may
say usually, in the case of important new
legislation on lines of policy, there is a
popular reaction before it can have g
tair trial. Then comes the short session
in which little is done except to pass ap
preparation bills. With three years
term, instead of the present single inord
nately long session, there would be tive
sessions unlimited by the end of a Con
gress, and of more moderate duration
which would practically nearly double
the time for deliberation and considerable
legislation. The laws of the first session