But Nevertheless, I Think It Will Come To Pass That A
Cabinet Will Gradually Form Itself At Washington As It Has Done At
London, And That Of That Cabinet There Will Be Some Recognized And
Ostensible Chief.
But a Prime Minister in the United States can never take the place
there which is taken here by our Premier.
Over our Premier there is
no one politically superior. The highest political responsibility
of the nation rests on him. In the States this must always rest on
the President, and any minister, whatever may be his name or assumed
position, can only be responsible through the President. And it is
here especially that the working of the United States system of
government seems to me deficient - appears as though it wanted
something to make it perfect and round at all points. Our ministers
retire from their offices as do the Presidents; and indeed the
ministerial term of office with us, though of course not fixed, is
in truth much shorter than the presidential term of four years. But
our ministers do not in fact ever go out. At one time they take one
position, with pay, patronage, and power; and at another time
another position, without these good things; but in either position
they are acting as public men, and are in truth responsible for what
they say and do. But the President, on whom it is presumed that the
whole of the responsibility of the United States government rests,
goes out at a certain day, and of him no more is heard.
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