Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-10

proper period IS as MUCH q dIfy as 70 hdOe OoTHe
it faithfully. II some termination to the services
of the chief magistrate be not fired By the Con-
sfitution or supplied by proctics, his o6ice,
inoEy for years. tCiII in fact, become for life
and history shoes easily that deOener1tes into
an Observation-Disclosures Jefferson.
precedent is not its justification. THE
Sabbath was made for not for the Sabb ath.
But if a precedent sprung from peoples needs
If it expresses their viii to be free and is inter
with the very fabric Of their government, they
dare not rip out unless they ready for revolu
40 In this sense, - against third
term for President of the United States is vital
principle to the American people. 1t is one of the
essentially democratic features Of their governs lent
distinctive mark between Old World and New World
institutions 1t is bulwark against government by
= man. instead of government by law Established
by Washington In the Republics beginning, it has
been reaharmed by Jefferson and Madison and Mon
roe and Jackson-Southern statesmen ALL who thus
expressed their countrys inherent aversion abuses
of the executive power. -r'f's sr' +
Against this great unwritten Law, Mr.. .ROOsevelts
viously said that on those questions of government
which especially engage the southern people his pol
icies and convictions his purposes their in
teress are radically opposite. This is true Of his
position on the tari the political status of the
negro on the rights OF the States and it is emphat
caly true Of his past record and his present views
concerning the power of the President.
There was time when Mr.. Roosevelt himself
recognized; in words least the value and the
Of the rule his predecessors had established for in
II hsv he
e.TRe sgise custom s0hich limits the President
to t,5O terms regards the substance and not the
form and Under circumstances tDiH be can
didGte for accept another nomination"
public of common sincerity would not have
made such a pledge had he not thought it well ad-
yised and. having made it, he would have considered
1t binding Not so. however, with Mr. Roosevelt; for
TO him consistency, in essential matters seems
merely "a hobgoBlin of little minds" We may well
ask how such would regard a fourth OF a fifth
or life term in the Presidency If he breaks his
faith with the public to his ambition now would
he scruple to break It often as he chose in the
future?
The reason and the justice of the third-term pre-
ceden however are broader than any particular case
or any individuals promise This rule as we have
said is distinctive feature OF system of govern
ment and the vital purpose of safeguarding
the nation against power. IN his American
President enjoys authority If Tess dignity than
a Eurppeon king" He may veto legislation. power
which no present day sovereign possesses. He ap-
points his own cabinet, while the ministry of most
constitutional monarehies is named by popular
ssmbly He appoints the members Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission which controls the rates of
practically all the railroads in the country super
vises many other public service concerns. He ap-
points the judges Of the Supreme court and also of
and thus largely define the course Of our national
life He appoints ambassadors and members of the
diplomatic and consular service and thousands of
other officials who have to do with important public
business He has extensive power in dealing with
foreign nations and with international AFFAIRS and
in addition TO all these powers legally conferred.
there are many others which he can and does
exercise.
The enormous federal patronage at the Presidents
disposal could DO used by an INSCRIPTIONS man for
dangerous ends Even cabinet oHcer. as the country
has lately learned through experience can make
his department tool of autocracy and oppression
rights and interests of the public "a his grasp. He
has issued arbitrary orders and then summoned the
Department OF Justice enforce as though they
we're the Law Of the land. He has up system OF
ssponage that is unparalleled outside of Russia He
has used the patronage at his command to further
partisan ends and to build up a political ma
conditions and with a practical incentive, chief
executive of RoOsevelt's type could press his own
license to such length that the liberties OF the peo
pie would be iaperiled, if not destroyed?
These being the powers Of the President, how es-
Eao~ f.ff 11x nth lin