The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-20
CAEsARIsM.
From the Tuscaloosa tAla) Times (democratic),
August 1871

August Isl
A great but not unexpected peril menaces the
Republic. The purple and ensigns OF royalty loom
up Enthusiastically In the horizon OF the near future
Of the country and thoughtful men are seriously
apprehensive that the days OF constitutional
liberty are numbered. Grant aspires to third
Presidential term. Not content with an eight
years. saturnalia Of vengeance and hate and the
enormous fortune which he has already acquired
by corrupt and wicked means, he desires to pro-
long his tenure Of ONCE beyond the period pre-
scribed by the custom of the country and the
usage OF all former Presidents, and in this am
bilious aspiration he Is encouraged by the ap-
prevail Of many OF the representative men and
journals OF his party.
The movement Is an alarming one. l: IL o men-
ace to American liberty IN the present and a
prophecy ofits jeopardy, perhaps its DOWNFALL In
the future. The constitution, wisely or uuwisely,
prescribes no limit to the tenure OF the Presiden-
tial ofiice. But the custom Of our Presidents, be-
ginning with Washington, has assigned eight years
the longest period for which 1t should be held by
the incumbent. The custom has ripened by un-
broken observance, into practical limitation OF
the tenure Of the office, approved by the country
and commended as wise by many and very per-
suastve considerations Heretofore all our Presi-
dents have sacredly observed the usage, and no
one OF them all cherished, much less expressed, a
desire to depart from it by accepting third
term.
1t has been reserved for the ambitious and un-
principed Grant to mediate departure in this
respect from the practice OF his predecessors Ills
aspiration tor q third term Is proof OF his I'M
chastened ambition and sounds note of alarm to
the whole country. He has the ambition OF Cesar
or Cromwell without the genius Of either, and the
fanatcism of Lincoln without his kindness OF
IA So
to stab the liberties OF his country for money and
self-aggrandizement. Perhaps he even aspires to
the purple and the pomp OF throne. Let the
people beware OF Grant and his third term aspira-
lions. The mock Caesar stands even now on the
banks OF the American Rubicon!
From the Boston Herald independently, August III
We are not of those who predict the speedy fall
of this country under the government Of Caesar.
ism." We have too much faith In the spirit OF the
people, the patriotic teachings of our history aud
the tendencies OF the age. should "CHsarism" be
established here it would be Of short duration.
Every school district would furnish a Brutus, and
the calm good sense of the people would re-estab-
fish the ancient landmarks Of liberty. But 1t can
not be denied that great many honest people,
who laugh at the suggestion OF "Cgsarlsm," do not
have very distinct idea OF what it is or how it
might come. The picture presented to their minds
is that OF sudden movement by the President in
office, declaring himself king emperor, dissolv-
ing Congress, hurryng his leading opponents to
prison and so on. Such an attempt would be wild
and ridiculous. But "Casarsm" may come in an
other guise. 1t can come, as it has come in other
times and to other countries, by the consent
OF the people. Sustained by great popular
majority 1t would have q foundation as firm
and an authority as unquestioned as any govern
ment in the world. In that way ''CGsarism" came
to Rome. In that way it established in France.
great people does not surrender Its liberties at
the demands OF a usurper; but 1t sometimes yields
so far TO the encroachments of a central power or
Is so lar carried away by party spirit that 1t well
comes the man ''on horseback" to restore order or
to carry out Its own ideas. despotism is always
essentially Of the same spirit, and the despotism
OF q majority is easily conveyed to an agent, who
then becomes dictator. The present phase of the
danger in this country is a despotism Of the ma
joriy. To carry out its purpose this despotlsm has
already violated the constitution. 1t has packed
tile Supreme Court and invaded the right OF the
States. 1t has interered in the local AFFAIRS OF the
States and carried elections by the free fede-
raj patronage and federal bayonets. It has winked
at the worst corruption in office and has resisted
every attempt at reform. II begins already to hint
at third term for President Grant the best plan
for keeping the party in power.