Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-09
The 0NE-TERM PLEDGE
IMPORTANT DECLARATION BY
CANDIDATE OF DEMOCRACY.
Attempt by Alton b. Parker TO Give
4 Points TO Washington and Lincoln
1t Is the People Who Decide the Term
Question.

| In his speech OF acceptance, Alton b.
Parker. the Democratic candidate for the
presidency, declined in advance second
nomination for that once, and explained
| himself by saying: Il am fully persuaded
no incumbent of that office should ever
. be placed in situation of possible temp
fntion to consider what the effect of ac-
ton taken by him in an administrative
matter of great importance might have
upon his political fortunes. Questions OF
|momentous consequence to all of the peo-
pie have been in the past, and will be in
the future. presented 10 the President for
determination, and in approaching their
consideration as well as in weighing the
facts and the arguments bearing upon
them, he should be unembarrassed by any
possible thought of the influence his de-
cision may have upon anything whatever
that may affect him personally"
Coming as it does from man who is
80 unfamiliar with governmental meth
DDS and who is so little acquainted with
| the machinery of administration, who has
never held a civil office except on the
bench, who has never been in the Legis-
lature or in Congress. and who has kept
himself far removed from the people, this
declaration of Judge Parker is strange
one. He had a perfect right to say, If
he wished to, that he would not be
Icandidate for reelection, If chosen this
year. but it was unfair. unwise, and inn
pertinent Of him thus TO read a lesson to
the great men Of the United States who
have lived aud died before him, and who
nnve left behind them great names which
nave been in no wise dimined by the fact
that they were repeatedly candidates for
the suffrages of their felow-citizens, and
that they were repeatedly honored by re-
election.
Washington. Lincoln, Grant, Cleveland
and Mckinley were all candidates for
reelection. and no one of them, It may
safely be said, ever allowed his candi-
dacy to influence his action i'll any i'm
portant matter brought to him for his de.
cision. 1t is but little short of an insult
for this mere tyro in government to in
sinnnte that the great men who have
worthily held the Office of President, to
which he aspires. have permitted them
selves to be influenced in their action by
their desire for reelection.
What would have happened to this
country in the trying times of 1864 if
Abraham Lincoln, who honestly and
properly desired a reelection, had felt
that he could not ask his fellow-citizens
to choose him President again, for fear
they might think his desire of election
Influenced him in controlling the armies
In the field which he had put there to
preserve the republic and not to affect
his own political fortunes?
Does Judge Parker believe that in the
early days of the foundation of the re-
public. George Washington, who had Civ
eli his life and his property to his coun-
try. could have been swerved from his
belief in the right or wrong of any ac-
ton by the desire to be elected Presi-
dent again?
Can anyone believe that William Me
B Kinley resting under the laurels so fresh
" placed upon him by the Spanish war
and secure in the unbounded affection OF
the people of every State, would have
permitted himself to sign bad law or
to refrain from signing a good one, mere
ly because of some effect it might have
upon his chances for reelection?
The American people know only too
well that any. man who is fit to be Presi-
dent can be trusted TO perform the duties
of that high Office without disgracing
himself by permitting his personal amb-
ton to influence his public acts. The
record OF the American presidency is free
from such disgrace, and il is only chart
table to suppose that this declaration OF
Judge Parker. rejecting as il does upon
the reputation of the greatest men of the
republic, was merely the careless theory
of a man who has never sufficiently
studied the American system of govern
ment, and who in his retirement is su-
prpmply ignorant of the nOlitical history
of his own country.