Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-22
GEO. WILKES AFTER GRANT.
Opening Of the Anr-Grnnt Cam psfgn
Ths Presfdsnt fescrfDed BY an
Ola Personal Frisnd-Pro-
gaamme OF the Mall
contents, &c.
Prom the Spirit OF the Times,

Prom the Spirit OF the Times.
A very deep interest seems to be felt in
all parts OF the country to know what
measures will be adopted, and what line
of march pursued, by those leading Re
publicans who are opposed to the admin
istration of Grant, TO prevent the disgrace
and calamity of his reelection TO thu
Presidency Of the United states. That
such an effort will be made, aud earnestly
made, in behalf OF the honest aud patriotic
portion Of the Republican party, In oppo-
sition TO the slaves and sycoPhants Of the
Presidential fortunes, has been finally
determined. The gentlemen who will
direct this movement against the asPira-
tiohs Of the great Office holder, who de
sires to repeat himself in place, and who
have already oeen derIsively characterized
by the court journals IN the interests oil
those parasites, as "malcontents, are very
we'll known TO the country, and, without
regard to their political opinions, enjoy
the honor OF general confidence.
We need not at this point pause to de
velop the reason why this course OF action
has been decided upon 10y the patriotic por-
ton Of great and victorious party. IL
is sufficient that they regard General Grant
as an ignorant and incompetent maa, GOO
erned by gross instincts, disidiltut Of The
laiS using has high obieJ as VH IOers psr
sondl possession. and inspired bg aspirations
tsAich are represented rather By tae aoOrd than
by Tia ObllOItlOAs Of che oath under tohich he
took his office in snort, q mere adyenturer,
who, soldier like, only embraced the Re
publican faith because he saw success
within its ranks.
The editor of this paper desires to say
for himself that while he shares the gen
eral motives which actuate the other Re
publicans alluded TO in the premises, he
feels that he has special justification 10
resisting the candidacy OF General Grant
for q second term OF Office. This justih
cation may be found in the facts-trst
that the editor Of this paper has been fol
many years an earnest advocate OF al
amendment to the Constitution prohibit
ing any person from holding the Presi
DENTAL Office for more than a single term
and next, because General Grant, in con
versatlon with hIm two days before hi'
nomination Mt Chicago, pledged himself
formally TO the same principle, by declar
ing 1t to be his conviction, THAT the lib
critics of this country could not be main
20 the constitution, aud such a civil ser
vice bill as would enable the President {,
retain good men in Office This Wa
said TO the writer during one OF thOs'
interviews, through which he ha 1 restored
friendly relations between General Gran
and General Butler, and was printed
shortly afterwards in the SpirA Of u
Times and reprinted during his frlen1l.
personal intercourse with General Grant
without objection on his part o
cavil on the part of auy of his friends
This declaration by General Grant, prlu
ted at such time, IN a journal OF whlci
he was VIGOROUSLY faithful reader maN
be fairly taken as u deliberate prOmis
that he would not aspire To the hon 'rs O
second t0rm--nay, that he would hole
il to be criminal 10 do sO-and may b.
regarded also as a solemn pledge 10 tbs
whole country to the same effect. la or
gauiztng n political opp Isition, therefore
to General Grants canIIdacy iUr Second
term, we naturally direct ourselves tn th'
first salient ground of opposition to vic
to demand that General Grant shall Keel
his word not only because a man ough
always TO keep his word. bit because II
this instance IL Is necessary To the nb
critics of his country that he SHOULD
do so.
Without wishing to delay the develop
ment to which we are approaching
through this article, we desire simply, al
this point, 70 remind our readers that the
evils of the reflective principle are 81
universally conceded that II would 0t
difficult to find An American of any shade
of politics or from any portion Ot thu
country who Is not IN favor of n one-term
amendment TO the Constitution. Wash
ingtOn urged the prohibition OF the re
elective principle ut the close OF his tarJ
well address and jackson, with still
larger experience of the dangers growing
out of denomination for President, FOL
lowed WashingtOn's example IN his fare
we'll address, us, indeed, IN all his pre-
vious annual messages, entrea.ed Congress
and the country 10 promote sn amendnen
20 the constitution on this point. Here
certainly "A very remarkable Sgreement oil
opinion between the two most lllusIrious
pfssidsnta known 10 our history Both had
served double terms; both had been tempt
cd bJ their followers with the offer Of third
terms, but both rejected what, 10 more an
bIlous men, might have been made the
sispDing stone 70 monarchy. Both, there
fore, warned the American people not &c
permit another Prssidsnt TO take even
single sIep toward the psrpetuHuon OF hi
rale. This was The only defect which tnel
saw 10 our Institutions; the only consu'u
tlonAl reform which they proposed TO nav
effected. Whatever, therefore, might hsv'
bssn the reasons which had led to an omis
sion In the constitution on this point, neith
or Warrington nor Jackson consioers
thoas reasons worthy Of mention. WIS
they saw was, that this mallgn temptation
20 the ambition of the PrssIdent would con
vert him At once into the chief Of clan
instead Of leaving him TO be the servant Q
the people. ami that untold corfu ptionI
mmchiefs, aud dangers would be the inev
table couseu usncss OF such position
Again, through . con mon veHk"ess o. Do'
human nature, the desire for . retennJ
Of power easily seduoss even 'u0 oo''
man into the belief that their own 70 eie'
ton is necessary TO the welfare OF IN
country. From that p 'int torh no man
a rogue in the Presidential estimation ~N
can give supporttJ his predictions ana
once the best stations 10 der go0srnment a.
iolsd out 10 the M 81 sfectioe rase as :
the land. Does not every 'n@n . ooSoIv~'
20 10 attest this fact and do not tnos
official harpiea, taking thar cue from 70
Prssidsnts virtual malfeasauee, max
theft, perjury. and corruption the great p
htioal industries of the laudY Tnis 10 "hs
Washington and jackson saw aud f1resA'
aud the argument Of vs. danger or'u<n
them TO the conclusion that Tue re-elesh0
principle was . breeding ulcer Vt treason
strAtegsns, aud spOIls, Agsi 81 -hich
government could live. And this IS %
same conc u.iou which the entire PeoPl'
under a stall more extended e1perieDe'
have arrived at, aud thA. Ioj ~Ish una
nimity which enables US 10 SAY that v
never heard Of al American, OF any pol
tics, or from auy section OF the oJun'r,
who was not 10 favor vi ths one term prIn
ciple, or At least 10 favor Of prOhioilng th
President from extending hts p-nding 1t
oumbsncy by Immediate re election.
1t at once BEGAN, obvious, therefore
4.