The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-08
wANrs a LONG rrRM.

Some DAYS before the election Senator
spooner Of wisconsin. who is man Of
education and information. and who Ia
prominent in Republican councils. con-
stitutionai lawyer Of eminence. and man
who may be expected to speak for his
Party, said in a public speech that the
country would be better of IL Republi-
can President and Republican Congress
could be elected for a term of twenty
years.
II this had been said by some Insignia
cant spell-binder as a Republican stump
speech there would have been little sig
nificance in II, for some members of that
party, especially when they get to rant
ing In a campaign, say many foolish
things. but that plea will not serve In
this instance. Spooner is in many respects
representative Republican and any
thing he says in public must carry
weight.
Many good men Of all parties believe
that our national elections are too fire.
quent. and that longer term for the
President would be better. The provision
In the Confederate Constitution for Pre-
sidential term of six years. and that Of
ficial to be ineligible to succeed himself,
was a wise provision, in our judgment,
in our Federal Government, but doubt
II the change will be made. We agree
with Senator Spooner so far as to admit
that the expense, confusion and political
upheavals which attend our Presidential
elections every four years are in some
respects injurious, and six-year term,
with no chance for reelection OF
President. would be better.
| II is hard to conceive how a sensible
man, admitting that our national cleo
lions are too frequent. could seriously
advocate a term of twenty years Tor
President and Congress. II the Demo-
Gratis were in control of all branches or
the government 1t is quite safe to say
that neither Spooner nor any other Re-
publican would raise his voice in favor
of longer terms They would rather IN
slst that four years Is too long.
The only safeguard our government
has against practical monarchy Is the
fact that the Party in power knows that
it has a strong opposition party watch
ing il. ready to take advantage Of it's
mistakes or excuses. and to turn 1t down
at the next election. The party in con-
troll Of our national government knows
;S L. To ho noOnip and
that they can and will unseat it quadren-
nially IL it isn't considered safe and sat
isfactory.
We should have little hope for the per-
petuation of free government in the
United States If the Republicans were
secure in a lease of power for twenty
years. The country is now cursed by
a tariff system which is in many respects
legalized robbery. and by trusts which
rob without legal or other right, but what
to what would be the result of Senator
Spooners plan. With a certainty of
twenty years of unlimited power before
them under Republican rule the trusts
| and other tariff beneficiaries would so
intrench themselves that they could never
be routed, and the people Of the United
States would be at the mercy Of a set OF
money harpies who would care as little
for individual rights and wrongs an the
Sultan of Turkey does. Many Of the
strongest Republicans admit that the pre-
sent tariff should be modified in many
respects. but If they touch it with thai
view 1t will be done solely through feai
that their failure will be punished by tht
reinstatement of the Democrats. Moth
ing but fear of the Democracy will in
duce the Republican Party to reduce thu
tariff on anything.
Many unreasonable and un-republicar
things are done and said by Republicans
but none of them have gone to the length
that Spooner did. although 1t is quite pro
bable that there are plenty of others WIFI
agree with him in their minds.