The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-16

Jefferson, Madison and Monroe.
But since the time Of General jackson
this usage of two terms has been fruit
full of mischief and of disasters to the country.
Martin Van Buren, and his devoted followers
held that he, too, was entitled to second
term. The party conceded his claim in lS4O
and they and he were swept from the field as
| by whirlwind. He renewed his demand
again in 1874, and was only defeated by the
application of the two-thirds rule-another
fruitful source of misfortunes and bad luck to
the democracy. He renewed his claim again
in l848, and, being again rejected, he ran as
the independent free-soil candidate, and so had
his revenge in cutting out General Cass and in
so dividing the New York democracy as to
| elect General Taylor. And if we look at the
inside intrigues and schemes and trickeries of
the administrations of Tyler and Polk and Fill
more and Pierce and poor old Buchanan, it
will be seen that all their troubles and failures
are chargeable to their foolish desires for four
years more, subject to the pains and penalties
of the White House. And what mess of it.
from this insane desire, was made by Andy
Johnson!
Now there are many republicans who have,
under General Grant, become converts to the
one-term principle. They have, perhaps
been disappointed in the spoils, but there they
are. In the constitution of the $50 called
Confederate States they adopted the one
term principle of six years, and it was a good
idea. 1t was the one redeeming feature of
that confederacy which we should like to see
engrafted upon the constitution of the United
States. Meantime, the idea is gaining ground
that General Grant, having received the
reward Of the White House for his great SER
vices as a soldier, one term will do for him,
when there are good soldiers to be rewarded
who can as acceptably administer the govern
ment as he. Hence we believe that apart
from the disappointed politicians, there are
many men of the republican party who are
ready to join the democracy upon Sherman,
because they know that under him the great
issues settled by the war will not be disturbed,
and that upon other things he may give us
some great reforms. So Il is that we again
urge upon the leaders of the democratic party
a new departure and the prospects of great
victory under the banner of General Sherman.
Pnris-The End of the Siege Approaching.
The dispatches which we publish to-day
from the seat of war in France show conclu-
sively that the days of the Commune are num-
bered; that the instruction cannot much
longer resist the powerful force of men and
the numerous batteries that are operating
against it. The army of Marshal MacMahon
is in some places close under the enceinte of
the city, exchange ng shots with the Nationals
who line the ramparts. The Auteuil gate
has been completely demolished by the fire of
the batteries. Several breaches have been
made in the walls, and the heavy fire upon the
city itself is maintained without intermission.
The soldiers of the Commune are being
driven from their positions and forced
to take refuge within the walls.
Such is the situation outside Of Paris, while
within the prospects are scarcely any better
for those who still see fit to resist the legiti-
mate government. The National Guards are
becoming completely demoralized. They refuse
to march against the Versailsts, and, more
than this powerful party is springing up in
Paris which threatens every moment to over
throw the Commune and declare in favor Of
M. Theirs. There is possibility that the
party referred to may prevent the necessity of
carrying the city by assault. Its prompt
action will certainly be the means of saving
much life and property, but it must move
= I'LL H. IL III
besieging forces are not in humor to be
trifed with; they will not delay on a mere
expectation of assistance from within, and
if once compelled to resort to extreme
measures but few, if any, will be considered
friends among those found within the walls of
Paris. The evaporation of those French
soldiers who have been so long prisoners in
Germany, and who return to France only to
find the doors of its capital closed against
them, can well be understood Being shot
down by their own countrymen who did not
venture forth to meet foreign foe will not
| tend to render mild tempered those of their
comrades who survive the attack, and if the
army Of MacMahon Is compelled to enter
Paris by force we can only say, God help the
wretches who may be found resisting it !! The
cry for quarter, for mercy, will then be of no
avail. The cold steel will do its work effectu-
ally and the slaughter will be horrible. We
do not believe it in the power Of the officers to
control their men; the bloody work will go
on until the last man found with arms in his
hands will be disposed Of Such will be the
fate of the Communist soldiers unless sur
render comes before assault.
sTLL GIVE HER AWAY" was the brutal
remark of the Washington Market hummer
Virgins as he planted q murderous blow with
billy or slungshot into the forehead of young
Durand in Park place at an early hour on