Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-01-09

t.t.t .t ~
CEx-Presidspt Cleveland h n. x. world.)
what reHectioa does lthe dawn of
tbs Twentieth Century suggssk con.
corning the Prssieoncys
This 10 especially the peoplss Office.
Its incumbent. BY reason Of the thee
~ Of his selection and she nature Of
his duties. 10 more directly related %
the individual citizen than sny ether
pubtic servant His functiens and
his general powers have rsmsinsd tbs
same during our entire national sxis-
tsnce. and the wisdom and foresight
Of those who planned our form Of
government 10 in nothing more man.
ifest than in the fact that during
more than . century Of our country's
tremendous growth these functions
and powers have been found shun-
dainty sufficient for all conditions
and every emergency.
The new century fnds us confront
ed With perPlexing problems growing
out of startling expansion Of OnS
domain and an unprecedented crsa.
ton of ObligAtiOu-bearing relation.
ships with milliens Of strange and in
compatible people. Good men Ia
ment our predicamens and patriotic
men fear that dangerous strain will
be put upon our institutiOnS bat
none need fexr that any tension re-
sulting from Constitutional treat
ment of these problems will expose q
fatal weakness in the attributes Of
our executive Office - . factor in
their solution.
IL 10 unavoidable, however, that
the work and responsibility dsvOlvinS
upon the executive branch Of our
Government, already very great, will
be much increased BY these new con-
ditiOns. The voters Of the Twentieth
Century will do we'll TO properly sp-
Preciats the mental strsagth, the NOR
81 qualities and patriotic impulssE
which should chagacteri1s THAR Chisi
Magistrate.
Thoughtful citizens will more and
more appreciate the objections urgst
against the present indirect and cum
bersome mode Of Slscting their Pres
ideDt The circumstances in which
this plan originated, If ever of con.
trolling importance, ought no longer
to excuse such battling confusion OF
ideas as grows out Of the proposition
that in q popular goTsrnmsnt the
peoples chief officer and their most
direct representative may be made
the recipient of their trust and the
dspcSitAry of their power in fragrant
oPPO1itiOn 70 the declared popular
will. ls
Strong arguments are from time
to time urged in favor Of . change
in the tenure Of the Presidential Of
fee. These should challenge serious
attention, to the end that, the pres
ent Constitutional limit may be re-
moved and . more reasonable and
useful one substituted. There has
been . continual increase in Federal
legislation of persmptery character
and related to the immediate and
routine necessities of the COUNTRY;
and so it has come 70 pass that Of
the four sessions of Congress held
during PrssidentiAl term two are
so brief as 70 scarcely permit the
passage of necessary appropriation
bills. while Of the others one occurs
when the President 10 usually strange
IN his new Office and burdened with
opportunities and lahOrs inseparn-
bic from . change Of administration
aud the remaining one encounters
during It's oontinuance the inter.
ruPtiOns, timidity, and dsmorilization
OF Pres;dsntiAl and COngrsesionAl
canvass. These conditions suggest
the scAnt opportunity allowed fer
She initiation aud adoption Of new
snd important remedial Legislation
during . single Presidential term.
another argument Of considerable
weight in favor Of the change u bAs-
ID upon she complaint that ths busi.
nsss aud other important iatsEssts Of
Dur people are now. too frequently
disturbed and disquietsd by the tar.
nOil and hat az = pe~.;Sa.e;.l -