Gloucester County Democrat., 1905-09-28
Al Proposed Araendment.


Some newspapers. having nothing
else to do. are reyiying the agitation in
favor of constitutional amendment
fixing April 80 instead Of the 4th of
March as the date for inaugurating the
presidents. While they are at it they
ought to couple with that proposition
the following: The presidential term
ought to be increased to six years and
the incumbent rendered forever ineli-
gible. Only two presidents, Washing
ton and Hayes, have failed to spend
most of their time and energies during
a first term trying to secure second
term, Washington because he did not
want the first and Hayes because he
was never elected. If president We're
limited to one term of six years he
would use his utmost endeavors to be
a blessing to the people instead of
scheming for further honors for him
self. Representatives should be elect
ed for term of three years. BY max
ing these changes as to terms of presi-
dents and representatives the states
would soon adopt three year terms for
their officials, and we would have an
election every three years only, which
would be an Improvement Presidents
and representatives ought to be elected
on the first Tuesday in September, and
congress ought to convene and presi-
dents should be inaugurated on the
first Tuesday in October, which is the
most delightful season of the year in
Washington. By beginning at that
time congress ought to be ready to adj
journ by May /, or latest by June /,
and that would be a great relief so far
as the weather is concerned. But, real
ly, there is no good in bothering ones
head about the matter: Things will go
on to the end of time just as they are
going now, for it is almost as impossi-
bic to amend the constitution in time
Of peace as it is to invent perpetual mo-
ton, not that that venerable instru-
ment does not need amending, for it
does, not only in the matters above set
forth, but also in others the election
Of United States senators by the peo-
pie for one thing and uniform laws as
to divorces, assignments, etc.
1t isn't reverence for the constitution
which prevents its amendment as Wis
inertiae. OF course there are some
fetch worshipers who object to any
amendment, no matter how much it is
needed. A man does not need to be
an iconoclast to favor amendment.
Everybody with common sense reveres
the fathers and their work. The ex-
cellence and durability of their work
excite constant wonder. But they
We're not infalHble. Their work is not
perfect. New conditions have arisen
which render certain changes very de-
sirable, if not absolutely necessary
They did not want the constitution
amended in haste, in which they were
correct. Consequently they deliberately
and wisely made its amendment slow
and tedious SO that ample time would
be afforded for rejection, suggestion,
discussion, debate. They made it 50
slow and so tedious, in fact, that they
came near making it impossible. But
it can be done. 1t will require time,
patience, energy and systematic agita-
tion. If sufficient number Of citizens
are willing to take the trouble it can
be amended. Here, however, an an
cient proverb is applicable What is
everybody's business is nobody's bust
ness"
The attention Of Republican editors
who claim that crime abounds only in
Democratic states is respectfully but
earnestly called to the fact that few
days since two old men In Illinois
were bucked. gagged and tortured with
fire in order to make them reveal the
hiding place Of their money and val
uables. Illinois cannot be classed as a
Democratic state. Quite the contrary
According to the figures of the last
election, she went by huge majority
in favor of Republican sweetness and
light If some brute In human form
had been burned down south for rape
the northern papers would have had
much to say about barbarism, brt as
these two old men were guilty of no
crime except possessing few hundred
doIIarc of hard oarnad Ynonoy fha fact