New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-11
ONE PPESIDENTI4L TERN.

Tho TACT that MT. UPOrSc NHhcS' III "i7
Spirit of Tie Times insists on the restriction
of each President to single term, Is cited by
some as an evidence of dissatisfaction on MS
part with the distribution of Federal patron
age. 60! Wilkes is one of the soreleads"
is the cry; she wanted something from Gen.
"Crant, and didn't get it: OF course nc goes
for one term % To show how tallaclOns ami
unjust this assumption is, wc--having had no
communication with Mr.. Wilkes for year
past-copy rerbatim the leading editorial from
his Spirit of Nov. %, 1SGS-threc weeks af'rr
the People had voted that Gen. Grant should
be President, but before tho Electors had con-
yencd to make the ch0icc-aS follows:
GRANT AND THE oSErERM PRINCIPLE.
We learn from the Washington correspondence or
THE TRIBUNE, with qualification which IS almost
personal, that Cen Grant IL about to enroll hiI,er AT
the head o: American statesmen by recommending tie
onc-term principle In his inaugural address, Washing
ton and Jackson after having enjoyed two terms of the
Presidential Office retired from the chair with the solemn
and appeal to the country 10 limit their sue
cessos one Tue disnt, rested and srlfsacric
ing I'd Grant enter upon his first term
with the recommendation his lips that he himself as
well his should DO limited by the COnstitu
ton TO ono term only None could doubt the purity OF
such an appeal. Pew will dcmur to Its wisdom and
necessity The bane OF Presidents has been the monarch
zeal gTaspng toward future term THIS selfish interest
has blurred the ud OF who had been Thought
the clearest and ahcs and stained the honor OF some
who had seemed pure. "A rule, this ing ambi-
ton has oercapcd itself" and the President in hopes
OF second term, been led like johnson into those
very combinations which have not only made second
term impossible but have well nigh cut short the first
Nothing strengthens our confidence in Gen. Grants
peculiar fitness the Presidency than the convc-
lions he already expressed in unofficial manner in
...xG,. torn ThnIltr "
have pressed this principle zealously in the columns OF
The Shirt for many years. ambition Is not TO ride
hobby but to redeem the first Office %: the Republic from
personal and selfish mOtves-o rescue It's vast powers
from pcrycrson the Insignificant and base end 0 pro-
noting the reelection of its incumbent. Whatever rea-
sons weighed upon the minds Of Washington and Jack.
son in the Infancy of the Republic, have acquired four
fold force with its expansion into Its present empire
The President appoints 1000 officers. and dis
tributes direct patronage Of nearly ono hundred and
fifty millions of dollars per annum and an indirect and
collateral patronage still greater His power 0veregSla-
ton IL cOns uonay equal to that Of twothrds Of both
Houses of Congress. and through his influence over the
appropriations Of that body and the administration OF
the and the laws, and the distribution OF the
contracts Ivy various departments the stream OF wealth,
power, and place which flows through his hands
to Others as great controlled by Napoleon
or the Caesars His Influence over the Southern States
must be for several years like that Of the hero Of Ma
rcngo and Anserlitz the conquered Kingdoms OF
Europe The motive Of the President whether patriotic
or personal is the secret spring which moves this vast
human rchanism for good evil II his motive is
trioc and disintercsted spirit Of integrity breahes
through the entire body polite quckening 1t from
inertia and cleansing 1t from corruption II his spirit be
one Of seseekng and personal gain whether in abect
he grasps ut money, or in stern ambition he
strike for power, all the channels Of official influence,
like 80 many nerves, tinge with the thrill Of his sorld
rtth Eve rbara ,,,riu
cped parasites and Aatercrs step into Office the
heads Of honest men, and compensate themselves for the
regulations they sacrifice IN holding office under
rupt administration by prcying on the revenues and
the people until they more like yulturcS than
the administration which appoints them. We have
greater confidence In the personal power ami Will Of
Gen. Grant to withstand and override these Influences
than in that OF any other person living no could he
subjected them. But constitutions should be adapted
TO secure the best results from the average 0f selfish and
ambitious human nature. Those which depend On
unfailing supply Of patriotism may meet spasrno,c
success, but must ultimately break down. We cOnccde.
too that other influences beside the "onetcrm princI
pie" should supplement and aid it, Our civil AMI dipO
mat service should be graded like military service.
80 that all should reach tho higher positions thoroughly
prepared by experience gained in the lower and promo
ton should attend upon merit and not accident Our
present Civil Service IL utterly disorgnized maze
which needs nothing much the mind Of military
organizer to reduce to order. 81 remove you said
Grant to Gen. Warren, after Five Forks "because you
do not organize you have faith In your Division Gen
erals give you order which ono OF them should
execute. and you execute 1t yourself. while you In
command OF division, thus getting whipped f
want Of renforcements your other divisions are lying
idle for want Of u corps commander" Just the Same
lack OF organization Ii at work In tho Treasury Depart
ment. while Secretary Mct'uoch Ia investigating f"
seizure in NewYork city. which he oan trust
C,tlec rnf th, In,
Attorney try the United states Courts to decide
the harlcs age eycryw robbug tho toyennos aud