The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-17
The Third Term Excitement.

The Third Term Excitement.
Has General Grant any desire or inten-
ton to run for President again? Do any
considerable number of the Republican
party desire or intend to renominate him?
These questions are suggested by the
charges of Casarism now loudly reitera-
ted from the opposition jour nails. General
Grant denies any such wish or purpose,
and we have yet to see any evidence
of an intention in the Republican party to
nominate him for third term. OF course
there is no constitutional inhibition against
running him any number of times for Presi-
dent. If he is the free choiceof the major
ity Of the people itseems quite unreasonable
to infer that he will abuse the power of his
Office more in the third term than he is
doing now. We fail to see any "Cesar-
ism" in yielding to the popular solicitation
to become candidate, if a faithful and
prudent administration have won the pub
lie confidence, and it desires continuation
of services that it has found valuable.
Why blame the faithful officer? 1t is
hardly logical or fair to construe facts of
this kind against good officer. No one
seriously believes that General Grant
would attempt to perpetuate his power by
any improper means, if elected to third
term.
The charge of" Casarism" is fagrantly
unjust against him. So far from assuming TO
exercise doubtful poacers, he has shown
himself remarkably sensitive and cautious
upon the safe side. In fact, this DISPOSE
ton to be severely just to all interests Is
one of the most salient points in his char
acter, as shown both in his civil and militia
ry career. General Grant is pre-eminently
safe executive officer.
The far-fetched sentiment and carefully
elaborated argument of the New York
Herald upon this subject is purely sensa-
tional. The strictly partisan press, which
Says over its stereotyped list of charges
and grievances with the persistence of a
street-crier, holds this cry of Casarism
as sort of permanent stock from which a
political broth can always be manufac.
tured to order. 1t is very stale, how.
ever, and editorial brains must be barren
that can produce no better. All this
talk is mere stuff and nonsense. The
simple fact is, that General Grant is try
ing to do his duty faithfully to the coun-
try. That he makes mistakes no one will
deny, but the country is experiencing a
great sense of relief from the anxeties OF
the past. Everybody feels secure against
abuses and corruption of power. We are
getting what we sorely need, time and energy
10 devote to growth and progress. Atten-
ton is being turned to the great practical
questions which lie close to the homes and
business of the people; we are all heartily
disguised with the miserable barren strife
of parties, which has wasted our strength
and substance, and brought us nothing
but hearts full of bad passions and empty
hands. General Grant has ceased to be
the representative of a party. Epe,ythng
shows that he has thrown aside the parti-
san and is President of the whole country.
He deserves at all hands loyal support.
But while we say this, we unhesitatingly de.
clare ourselves opposed to his nomination
for third term. With the fullest confidence
in his good intentions we should oppose per-
sistently and aoih all possible energy aas
dttemptto nominate him again. Our reasons
are very different from those stated by thu
opposition press, but ace consider then
more sound and decisive.
Meantime, we are confident that the YER,
slight expression in favorof a third term vii
. be found limited to those whose desire fo
office, or whose personal relations will
the President, renders them sycophanti'
and foolish in their conduct.