Year: 1876

The Judiciary Committee of the House
agreed yesterday to report an amendment to
the federal constitution extending the term
of the President to six years and making him
ineligible for a second election. The COM
mittee, however, were not unanimous, q
minority preferring to leave the term of four
years unaltered and to prohibit reelection
after eight years service. We are sorry that
this necessary reform has not the support of
the whole committee instead of mere major
ity. Every democrat ON the committee and
one of the republicans favor the limitation
to a single term of six years. The Others
simply express their opposition to a third
term, but they seem to have no proper grasp
of the present remarkable and unique situa-
ton.


The popularity of the present situation is
that the country is at last thoroughly
aroused to the evils which attend the re-
eligibility of our Presidents Until within
the last two years third election has not
been regarded as possible since Washington
set the precedent by which all his successors
have felt themselves bound down to the time
of President Grant. And yet, during the
long period when third term has never
been thought of by any incumbent, the
wisest of our statesmen and the ablest philo-
sophical writers on our institutions have
felt that the re-eligibility of the President is
fraught with great danger. Jackson tried
to have the constitution so amended
as to forbid the reelection of any
President Clay was strenuous adj
vocate of the same reform, and De Tocque-
vile, the ablest Of all speculative writers
on the American constitution, and one of
the most gifted intellects of the CEN
tury, pointed out in his great work, aDe-
mocracy in America" the perils which
threaten the stability of our government
warnings of able statesmen and profound
authors were like "a voice crying in the
wilderness" because popular sentiment did
not appreciate their far-sighted views. But
General Grants inordinate ambition has at
last awakened popular apprehension to the
greatness of the danger, and it would be q
pity if the occasion should pass without the
erection of secure barrier. Our free insti-
tutions have always been in danger of going
to wreck by the re-eligibility of our Presi-
dents, and it would be q matter of in
finite regret if the present state of public
feeling should not be utilized to accomplish
change which SO many wise patriots and
great statesmen have thought indispensable
if we would save our institutions. The third
term excitement renders the ratification of
such an amendment possible, and its friends
should not let an occasion slip which may
not recur until all remedies are too late.


The one-term amendment, with an extern
sion to six years, would be singularly oppor-
tune now. If the amendment should be
ratified and take effect at once it would, in
deed, extend the present term of General
Grant to six years; but there would be great
compensating advantages, even to the demo-
cratic party. 1t would enable its new men
to gain the training they need for public life
and to get clear of the rawness
which makes it a hazardous expert
ment to trust the democratic party with
the government of the country. 1t is their
misfortune that nearly all public employ
ments have been for the last fifteen years in
the hands of their adversaries, and that the
talents of democratic statesmen have not
had opportunities for development. The
political revolution of last year brought
many democrats into public life. but they
need experience to mature their talents If
the party were to get control of the govern
ment two years hence instead of this year it
would have far better chances of establishing
itself in public confidence. 1t will enter the
Presidential contest this year with very
doubtful chances, but postponement Of
two years might change the whole face of the
situation.


Il.