The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-15
The Press and the Danger Of Cesar
Ism Destroying the Republic.

does not hinder the subject of the Republics
future being fairly and fully canvassed. The
very ease with which the government can be
administered and the minimum of talent that
is absolutely necessary for carrying it on must
attract considerable attention in themselves.
We have reached one of those quietly recuper-
ating epochs which occur in the history Of
every country. Revenue flows in at a rate
which seems to demand nothing but the exer-
else of limitation. Yet, in such times it is
that the liberties of people melt away
from them. Used to a steady course
and open sea, the ocean passenger
never dreams that rocks or shoals may
be ahead, SO long as the breeze holds
fair, for he has abandoned the lookout and
forgets that he is moving, except with the
light, noiseless sense of motion of man in
dream. Meals are served and eaten regularly,
there is a smoke after dinner and then o
sieSta, and 80 he counts and loses count of
time. The figure may not perfectly apply to
the situation of the Republic, but when one
thinks of the Inman steamer dashing over the
Gull Rock Shoal while the passengers were
playing cards in the cabin it gives por-
tentous color to the comparison. AS we be-
lieve that no element Of caution should be
| neglected in ocean steamers with five or six
hundred souls on board, much more do we
claim that every precaution against disaster
should be taken in case where the liberties
of forty millions of people are concerned 1t
is with this view that we have delicately but
firmly spoken upon the subject of third
term for President Grant. We have no apology
therefor to offer republicans, no crumb Of
comfort therein to present the democrats; it
is simply and purely on its gravity as
question for the nation that we treat it.
Our contemporaries of oil parties have taken
up the matter. If we have to complain and
regret that where the press represents Sec
tional politics the treatment has been partisan,
we must at the same time remark that the
swiftness with which the subject once mooted,
has commanded attention proves its impor-
lance. In journals representing the party or
parties opposed politically to President Grant.
we observe shade between bitterness and joy
that the HERALD hns undertaken to point out
the dangers of a third term in the Presidency
being bestowed upon or taken by him, as the
First Napoleon took the imperial diadem from
the hands of Plus vi. and placed it upon his
own head. We observe in them a readiness to
revel in pictures of the fulfment of their worst
| fears, which looks as though, from the four
times repeated story of national defeat like
Macrobius, the Roman Knight whom Caesar
forced upon the stage. they were hastenins L,
''welcome every shame" at the hands of the
leader of the republican party. We can
not commend this course AZ either manly
or polite; patriotic it certainly is not.
Their oft-repeated personal abuse of the
President, from which we emphatically dis
sent, has no longer even the pretence Of
weight with the country at large. Bitterly as
General Grant chose to dwell upon
it in his second inaugural. it had
found its proper level long before
he had put his pen to paper to resent it.
We have reached phase Of the question
which dwarfs the consideration of party per-
sonalities as it appeals in looming proportions
to the best and broadcast thought of the Union
The democracy must, of course, find comfort
in the fact that its most formidable and
hitherto invincible opponent is the man most
| prominent in our earnest argument but in q
great number of the extracts from democratic
and anti-administration journals which we
have published there is an utter absence of
anything to show that they honestly regard the
possibilities of General Grants third nomina-
ton as anything worse than q party vicissi-
tude
To the republican or administration Jour-
mails we look for holder attitude on the ques-
ton. There has been timidity about their
utterance which was not altogether to be un-
expected at first. A witness for the defence
under cross-examination may often be observed
glarcing at the counsel on his side to CLEAN
how he should answer. If he does not obtain
the cue he will, probably, take refuge in flip
pancy and evasion. This, however. will no
more serve the turn of journals supporting the
dominant party than it would the quibbling
witness who found a determined cross-exam-
liner before him. It will not do to wonder
''why the HERALD should have sprung this
question just now" The complacency of the
administration journals which take refuge
in sneering at democracy, when the
question is Sprung" is not to be
commended. The CHASING Of every one
with their political enemies who sees
the danger of third term is
weak device, for it tacitly admits
that the question is more than an open one,
and implies that, so far as they are concerned
the road to Cesarism will never have an OBJ
struction placed upon it. We welcome, indeed,
the voices of those administration papers that
speak heartily before consulting with tho sal
AIRED counsellors of their party. When an ad-
ministraton journal says, "The party that shall
undertake to run q candidate for third term
will be beaten and the candidate will be dis