The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-29
A THIRD TERM CHAMPION.
The Reelection of President Grant
from an Official Standpoint.
Belittling the Patriotism Of
Washington.

administration 0rgan-August 26.l
The NEW YORK HERALD and the lesser lights OF
he press have for some time past endeavored to
create sensation OF direst dread to the public
mind upon the subject of the reelection OF General
Grant to third term OF the ONCE Of President OF
the United States
The very proposition OF third term OF ONCE
has been treated as IL 1t were some new and
strange thing, and involving principles secretly
subversive of the rights and liberties OF the
people, and most reasonable and dangerous TO
the constitution OF our country. General Grant, 1t
is intlmated Is In secret league with certain proml-
nent officials and leaders Of public thought Tor
the purpose OF perpetuating his power and those
OF his friends and cO-OperatOrs by retaining such
official control OF the various departments OF the
government as will enable them to carry out
grand scheme OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In cnriching
themselves at the expense OF the public.
"C9sarism" Is the new coinage, which designates
the tremendous results which, In the cOunsels OF
these prophets of the press, to follow General
Grants third term in the presidential ONCE.
Dc the maligners who charge upon General Grant
and his friends C@sarism know what the word
means9 or knowing, mean that the public shall
understand it? Ns
1t is word coined of the tyrannies and oppres-
sions OF the Old World 1t is synonymous with alb
solutism and despOtism and treachery. 1t Is i'm
perialism-the expression Of the divine right Of
rulers to enslave peoples, to monOpolize all the
great and profitable interests OF country to over
turn constitutions, set aside laws and prostitute
to the interest OF single head all the liberties,
rights and lmmunitieS OF q nation; to make one
mans viii the absolute law for millions who are as
free to enjoy liie liberty and the pursuit of happ.
ness as are the unfettered denlzenS OF the forest
or the uncaged fowls OF the air.
Here the writer sketches the course OF julius
Caesar and the first and third Napoleons
And 1t is against such examples and such issues
as these that we are now warned II General Grant
aspires to q third term OF the Presidency
The wise men OF Gotham, who are endeav0rng
to create sensation for the American public out
Is sU
the circumstances of the past and present, Justi-
flying parallel between the C@sarism of the one
and any possible exigencies or the other General
Grant has neither the disposition nor the power,
under any possible aspect OF the case, to initiate
modern times. Neither time nor circumstance nor
peoples admit OF q parallel. The Romans were never
a free people, having neither representative nor
constitutional government. II the popular voice
did sometimes assert itself in the elevation OF
great leader to the sceptre the patrican and milf
popular rule. Popular sovereignty was never
known In Rome as power or principle OF the gov
It, and a no ~ fns % or a
never corrected by the moral power Of the repre-
sentative right, but by the violence Unpopular Jury
So with France. The French people have never
known or valued freedom. The most cruel despot-
Of the Republic and Commune. Her people have
never been sovereigns Of the soil. Liberty of life
and pursuit has never been heritage OF right to
French peasant and artisan. Hence there has
never been any moral power in the voice OF the
people. Revolution has never been accomplished
pressed, but by the violence Of the barricade and
the ferOcity OF the Commune.
There IS there no constitution no law for the peo-
pie, no moral potency OF popular will and voice
holding aspiring rulers IN check and correcting
abuses by the supreme arbitration Of popular
C9sarism; preferred 1t, and the latter will yet
have 1t.
ON the contrary, the American people are free
born. The love OF liberty Is innatei freedom of
thought aud action are heritage. Never having
been slaves to arbitrary power, they can never be-
wnes OF despot. The whole power OF govern
ment-the purse and the sword-can never make
war against the absolute right and power Of the
sovereign will OF the people.
In this country the power Of the State Is abso-
tegence; that IS, their perfect understanding OF
their innate rights; their love OF personal liberty
their sense OF the superior power and force OF the
No arts or wes could long blind them to these
immunities: no treason could hold them from
them; no despotism could force them away 1t is
positive absurdity to attempt any serious discus
sion of dangers to this country from what these
aIarmists eau Gasarism: II General Grant were
more, with all the power and patronage Of the
government at his command, he Could never main
d
and despotic.
And, more than this, there Is even In the spirit
and temper OF the person who aspires to or covets
despOtic rule some trait or characteristic which,
despite all efforts at concealment, all artlfice, will
show itself and give intimatlon or the secret pur
pose and action in the future. The demagogue Is
easily marked. The temper OF the usurper Is not
concealed under the Establishments OF art pander-
ing TO popular favor; especially 4 opportunity
ambition OF the other. Who besides General WASH
ington the Father of his Country, has had greater
talA thA nf
Caesar or Napoleon than General Grant,
In the history OF the world time and circum-
stance have rarely favored any popular leader as
can be called tue Father or his Country surely the
President may be called her regsnerator.
Assuming the command OF the entire armed
forces OF the country in time OF disaster and de-
1eat, when the whole nation seemed demOraliZed
and disheartened, at his will he could have claimed
and exercised dictatOral power over every branch
or the government and with the cheerful consent
and support OF the whole nation. But his modesty
servant Of the people Ne exercised his trust with
Justice and moderation, setting the highest exam.
using his imperial power only to crush and over.
whelm the enemies Of the government
What, however, might he not have claimed
What power too great Tor his vaultng ambition
might he not have welded over the wills and
hearts OF grateful people. ready even to put the
sceptre OF absolute rule in hands which mad so
grandly welded the sword in their delenceS And
yet, with the applause OF millions ringing In his
ears and the nation In gratitude at his leet, no
word has ever escaped his lips inconsistent with
the plain obligations Of the simple soldier. No act
OF his victorious career Indicated other purpose
than that obligation Of the humbest citizen, the
duty OF serving the people whose armies he had
led to victory.
Cesarsm, indeed There has never been in all
history more unobstrusive hero than General
Grant-a more modest patient and just ruler.
But this dire political calamity Is to befall the
nation only on the contingency OF a third term In
the Presidential Office; and yet this is not the first
time In the history OF the country that the PROPOSE
ton to reeect the occupant of the White House to
third term has been made, and our fathers anti
cipated no such dread results as Casarism from
such q proposal" Let US see what the history OF
the Presidential ONCE teaches on tue subject.
Washington served Two terms in the once OF
President and when he declared his intention to
retire from public life at the close Of his second
term there was general outcry Of the whole
nation against his purpose. The Legislatures OF
several OF the states Of the Union public bodies OF
all kinds, private individuals sent address upon adj
dress 10 HIM, imporing him TO retract his purpose
and continue to serve the country in that high
acice nraiuQ siranQ reason with nfhers