The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-28
A THIRD TERM.


Is there no danger to the country of an
attempt to perpetuate power in the hands
of single individual Is the republican
party prepared to wreck its future upon
the rock of third term?" Some weeks
ago, we entered our protest against the
idea of General Grant being, again, can
didate for reelection, and stated that, in
our Judgment, no more insane or idiotic
policy than this could be pursued by the
party, unless they were intent and deter
mined upon suicide. How were we met
The statement was made that such an idea
was but the idle vagary of restless mind
and only started BY politicians and news
papers, in opposition to the administration
and the republican party, for the express
purpose OF weakening the administration
and breaking up the party; that President
Grant would not entertain such thought,
and that no republican would countcnance
such an idea. This statement was made,
he it remembered, in.the face and eyes of
communication from one of the recognized
leaders of the party in Virginia, which
was being telegraphed over the country
and throughout the world, to the effect
that the south would go into the contest of
1876, as a unit, for the reelection of Gen
eral Grant. lie was not alone in this view
of the matter Other statesmen and poll
tcans of the south had planted themselves,
substantially, on the same platform, and
more or less of the republican newspapers
of that section of the country were pub
fishing their utterances, and giving editorial
sanction thereto. 1t was evident that
strong party was being built up, for the
purpose of bringing the south into the next
campaign, united, for third term.
Whether, at that time, there was any ap-
parent prospect of success in the project
or not, We are not prepared to say but we
deemed it our duty, as republican, to
warn the party of the approaching danger,
50 that shipwreck from that cause, at least,
might be avoided.
1t is rue that the opposition press, aided
by the New York Herald, have continually
kept up the cry that General Grant would
he the candidate of the party for third
time, and have endeavored, thereby, to dis
rupt the party. What was the duty of the
press of the country, under such circum-
stances Was it to enter bold, manly pro-
tests against such a course, declare it to be
AS it certainly is-contrary to the genius,
spirit and theory of our institutions, and
ought not to be- and would not be sub
mitted to by the party or the people? We
believe that such was the bounden duty of
every conductor of republican newspaper
in the land; and, so believing, took that
course. The vast majority of the repub-
lican press, however, acted otherwise.
They either passed it by in silence, or If
they took any notice of the question at all,
said, in substance, there was no great dan
ger anyhow, and if there is, whats the
harm ?" The other class, who while agree
ing with us, looked upon it as campaign
gossip" and gave it the sneering go by, as
before mentioned. The larger proportion
of the republican press, either by their ST.
lcnce or the fair construction of their COM
ments, gave the country to understand,
without really saying so, that there was
nothing wrong in third, fourth, or indef-
mite number of terms. What is the result !?
The Washington Chronicle is, confessedly
one of the ablest newspapers of the coun-
try, and, rightfully or wrongfully, is recog-
nized as the semi-ofiicial organ of the adj
ministration. 1t has given form and shape
to this movement and from the course of
Its contemporaries, believing the party and
country ripe for the movement, has in a
leading editorial--three columns in length
pronounced in favor of General Grant
for a third term. We do not yet believe
that the President has anything to do with
this movement. We do not think that he
can be SO utterly foolish and led away by
the ambitious love of power as to consent
to any such things. We do not believe that
the republican party Is 80 bent on suicide
as to agree to any such course. We know
the people will never consent to any such
acts of folly. "Whom the Gods wish TO de
stroy, they first make mad," and time will
determine whether II Is small faction, or
grand party, which is TO destroyed We
have not the time, this morning, to speak
of the dangers involved in this movement,
If successful /; but we honestly believe that
II this issue Is forced upon the American
people, the life or death of free institutions
will be involved therein, and decided
thereby.