Year: 1875

wanted to retire at the ex- piration ofthat term. He thought that that was long enough, and his Farewell Address was partly prepared at the end of the first four years; but being prevailed upon by those surrounding him on account of the peculiar condi- tion of the country to accept a second term, and on the expira- tion of that term terminated his connection with the government, That example has been pursued and followed ever since and has been looked upon as part of the country, but is almost out of or der to refer to such a man as Washington in these times Let us look at the example which he set in many things; look at the probity of his character. We find that Washington was opposed to a third term, and set an example by serving but two But I find another thing in regard to Wash ington's character in sustaining the morals of the country, in set ting the example in practice and precept. Washington received no more while he was serving the country, even in the army, than barely sufficed to defray his ex- penses.

 GIFTS AND GIFT-TAKING.

 We find 9 provision contained in the constitution which declares that no title of nobility shall be granted to any officer of the Unit ed States, nor shall any officer re- ceive any present or gift from any prince, potentate or foreign Power. What Q fortunate thing it would have been if in the formation of the constitution, when our mind was directed to the side of the voter and we were contemplating what was likely to come from that direction, if in the last clause or two, the last line or two of this section of the constitution we had added, 'or any citizen of the United States;" for there is as much danger in gifts and presents and gratuities from citizens of the United States to public officers as there is from princes and potent

 

 ates of foreign Powers. Here it is in our midst and right among us, and. if it had suited at this time to introduce some proposition like that-a resolution suggesting the propriety, or giving it as the Senate's opinion that the consti- tuition ought to be amended in this way it could be subject of important consideration about this particular period. There was a resolution in 1895 in the House of Commons in reference to the Speaker of that body, Sir John Treval, who rose from obscurity to be Speaker of the British House of Commons, attracted public attention and occupied a large space in the public mind, and of the death of Queen Mary who seemed to be one of those queens that were beloved and re- spccted by the populace-he oc- cupied q front rank in the funeral procession, bedecked and adorned in all the paraphernalia suitable to the occasion. In less than two weeks afterward the following was adopted in the body over which he presided:- Resolved, That Sir John Treval, Speaker of the House of Com mons, for receiving a gratuity of l 1000 guineas from the city of London is guilty of a high crime" Is guilty of a high crime--this was the resolution and this was the language they used in 1895, notwithstanding there has been so much reference to the corrup- tions of England and the English But such was their view and such was their action in reference to their Speaker, who had received 1000 guineas as for his influence and as sistancc in passing bill through the House for the benefit of the city of London lS0 years ago. and still it lives in history; and notwithstanding the British gov ernment is called corrupt, that