Year: 1878

the passage of a law giving seats in Con-
gress to the heads Of the executive depart
ments with o right to participate in the
debates, but not to vote. We trust that this
rumor may turn out to be apocryphal
sWhatever may be the merits OF such prop
osition this would be an ill-chosen' time
| for the President to broach it. 1t Is q ques-
ton of no urgency, and ought not to be in
truded when questions Of great urgency
laid himself open to the suspicion that the
turn Of his mind is not businesslike
and practical, and it would be un-
fortunate for him to do anything
to confirm that impression. His taste
for fighty and sensational politics has
already brought him into a great deal
Of trouble. His civil service order was
coup de th<dtre which defeated good inten-
tion by too ostentatious method OF carry
ing it into effect, and in most of the things
he has undertaken there has been great
deal more of pronunciamento than OF per-
formance. A statesman of good solid
practical cast of talents makes the most use





curely rely on just appreciation in the end
that he need not court popularity by osten-
tatious promises or trying to attract atten-
ton by specious novelties. When President
Hayes shall have established himself IN the
confidence Of the country by the able dis
charge of the ordinary duties Of his Office
it will be in order for him to propose
innovations in the settled methods Of the
government. To give seats in Congress to
members Of the Cabinet might be very
good thing to do, but it is not wise thing
for President in the exceptional position
of Mr.. Hayes to propose.


President Hayes is standing at bay against
hostile Congress. A large majority even
of his own party in that body reprobate his
policy and his methods. He has no super
huous influence to waste in trying to curry
measures which lie outside the duties re-
quired of him by the constitution. Any
thing like structural changes in the organi-
zation Of the government have but O slender
chance of success, even when urged by a
strong and popular President. Gen
eral Jackson, in every one OF his
eight annual messages, recommended
nm amendment of the constitution giving
the choice of President and Vice President
to the direct vote OF the people; but neither
his popularity nor his persistence could
cause the first step to be taken in that di-
rection. A President who has fallen into
disfavor with his own party in Congress
would evince On impractical and Quixotic
turn of mind if he should recommend q
change which there is as yet no evidence
that any part Of the people desire. Of all
possible innovations that Of giving the
heads Of departments seats in Congress is
the one which would come with the least
grace or consistency from Mr. Hayes. It is
leading point Of his policy to di-
yorce the Executive from Congress
sional influence. He declares publicly
and strenuously that Senators and
members have no right to meddle
with his end Of the schooner; that he
wishes to be let alone and means to let them
alone. We have never before had Presi-
dent who went to such lengths in insisting
on strict separation of Legislative from
executive functions us Mr.. Hayes. It
would, therefore, seem to be incongruous
to the degree of being grotesque tor this
President, in the midst Of this dispute, to
propose thrusting the members Of his Cabi-
net into Congress to take part in the de-
bates and influence legislation. Anybody
else could advocate this change with more
consistency than President Hayes.


Besides this theoretical incongruity there
is practical incongruity which seems still
more amusing. Ifthemembers Of Mr.. Hayes
Cabinet were statesmen who enjoyed the con-
iidence of the republican party, if they held
their places with the acquiescence and ap-
proval Of the republican Senators and men,
bers, they might find it pleasant duty 10
participate in the deliberations and take q
prominent part in the debates. But it is q
leading object of the President 8 opponents
to force him to change his Cabinet. They
have an intense political and personal dis
like for its most conspicuous members A
pleasant time the present heads Of depart
ments would have if they were sgt up as
targets for the shafts Of their enemies in
Congress without supporting majority to
shield them They would be badgered
from day to day; they would be annoyed
with every kind of troublesome interpret
lation which ingenuity inspired by
malice could invent The present at
tempts to force them out Of the Cabinet
are futile because their opponents have no
direct means OF rendering them uncomfort-
able. But if they were pitted against un-
scrupulous and outnumberlng foes in the
arena of the Congressional debates their
position could be made intolerable. It would
be Inconsistent with the dignity of their
Offices and with their personal selt-respect to
submit to the kind OF badgering which they
would be likely 10 encounter. Nothing of
this kind can ever occur in the British
uouco of( (o,nrnane hac,,,ca tba I,r;sto~,