The New York herald., 1873-08-25


the Herald Discussion Has Already
Establtshed.
With multitude of counsel, wherein, ac-
cording to ancient authority, then is wisdom,
the question of C@sarism continues to be
developed We can safely say that wide as
the discussion has been, we have seen nothing
to alter our views in the slightest degree.
Where they were not concerned in those
estimates of personal character which are
liable at any moment to receive q shock,
because of the manner in which new circumv
stances discover unexpected traits, we are the
more confirmed in the absolute strength of
the position we have assumed. Above and
beyond all party differences is the unassail-
able fact that, centring in the ganglion of
railroad, financial and monopolized money
interests generally, the ofics-holders'
combination, the republican party's am
bition and the prostration of the
democratic party are all the materials
for the subjugation of the people to
one man for an unlimited time. We have
further argued that the placing of President
Grant in the Chief Magistracy Of the nation
for third term would bring the danger closer
to us-would, in fact, place the sword within
easy grasping distance, which could be
welded by the first bold and skilful man that
came to power in cutting away our liberties
at blow In answer to the first portion of
our argument we have seen nothing that even
attempts to be contradiction. Premises and
conclusion have been acquiesced in by ALL
tacitly by some, vehemently by others This
alarming condition of affairs, which the peor
pie face with vague fear and an irresolution
as to how it should be combated, is intensi-
fed, we hold, by the alleged movement to
place General Grant for third term in his
present Office. Against this accretion of
danger we have two distinct demurrers, which
are as follows:-Say the ofice-holders and
more violent republican partisans ''We can
and will, if you provoke us, place President
| Grant in Office for the third, fourth, fifth or
tenth time, and you shall see that there is no
danger" Say the sanguine the enthusiastic re-
liants upon the popular will, "The first symp-
tom of an attempt to change the form of our
government would see Cesar his satraps and
his cohorts annihilated, horse, foot and dra-
| goons, in day." There is too much hastiness
for a well-considered opinion and too much
petulance and party braggadocio for sim
cerity in the first demurrer the second
means civil war. The violent partisan, if
he has not absorbed all his patriotism in
selfshness, would soon shrink from the conse-
quences of his words. Selfish as he might be-
he could not close his eyes to the fact that he
was not telling the truth The reliant patriot,
with his cure through blood might be effect
i've for the time, but the morrow of revo-
lutions is the most dangerous of all days to
the liberties of country. We cannot there
fore, see any cogency in the argument which
would insidiously induce the people to allow
their life in freedom to ebb away, merely to
crafty mingled selfshness and vanity in
class, party or q man. The blood cure
would, then, be in order; and that is what we
should earnestly strive to keep from ever being
a necessity The brave picture drawn
by Mr. McCullagh, of the ST. Louis
Democrat of General Logan carrying a
tattered battle-aag to raise the people against
despotism, is one we might well sympathize
with if things had come to that pass; but we
want peace and liberty for our picture all the
time. The risks of third, fifth and tenth
terms supplemented by the risks of crossing
bayonets with the pretorians of an American
Caesar, are all too great to make us stay our
hands just now.
| The opinions of several prominent men
upon the matter will be found in another por-
ton of the HERALD They include what are
} given as the expressions of the President him
SELF the opinions of General Butler, Mr.
Whitelaw Reid, of the New York Tribune, and
others. On Saturday We gave space to the
opinions founded on the elder Blair's long ex-
perience in politics. We have called upon the
President for an authoritative repudiation OF a
desire for third term in ofice-for a rejec-
ton, to stand for all time, of any offers that
toadying courtiers or selfish politicians might
make of such a third term. In reply to
a question embodying this he quietly said:-
''You forget the fate of Colfax. Will it
not be time enough to refuse when the
refusal is at my disposal ?" There is
some good-humored cynicism in this reply,
which implies that he is not so sure of the
fusal of what he has not been offered. It,
however, may be interpreted to mean more,
if the critics are more adverse to him
than those who listened to his words. Our
opinion of his republicanism and patriotism
will not allow us to give his words any more
significance than they present at first sight
Side by side with it our correspondent places
General Grants part in conversation which
took place when Mr.. Johnson was Presi-
dent They show that if President Grant
should be hereafter induced to continue in
office he would not have the excuse of believing
that the country's salvation depended upon it.