The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-23
CESARISM IN AMERICA
General Grant and His
Third Term.
Further Extracts from the
American Press.

the consequences to our institutions OF so alarm
ing an innovation. Nearly all OF the most
distinguished statesmen OF the last generation
thought that the re-eligibIllty OF our Presidents
threatened the ultimate subversion Of free in
situations. The ground OF their approximations was
the potent influence or the executive patronage In
party nominations, and the temptation
to which every President Is exposed to shape
his administration during his first term with
q view to promote his reelection instead
Of devoting himself to the public welfare.
These fears had acquired considerable strength
and were expressed with great emphasis before
the revenue Of the government exceeded thirty
The revenue has now grown to nearly
four hundred millions, and the evil and danger
have become proportianally colossal The fact
that the custom which limited our Presidents to
two terms seems to be losing Its hold on public
feeling and that almost whole press Ii discuss
ing what, until now would have been regarded as
the indispensable question OF re-electing Presi-
dent who has entered upon his second term, marks
Q great change In the average estimate OF the
overshadowing ability OF Presidential incumbent
to perpetuate his power by the use Of his patron.
age. Long before third terms were thought OF
as even remotely possible many OF our wisest
statesmen made efforts towards an amendment Of
the Constitution limiting the President to single
term. When, many years later. the Southern
States seeded, and their leaders had strong
motives for conciliattng public opinion BY intro
ducing reforms, they extended the term Of the
Confederate President to six years, and made him
ineligible TO Q second. There was no objection to
this change in the South, and there would prob
ably, be not much in the North II an occasion
should naturally arise for revising the federal Con-
sttution Aside from the selfsn interest OF General
Grant and his sycophants. the only considerable
obstacle to this reform Is the sluggshness Of pub
lie feeling, which seldom moves till some great Oc
caslon arouses it. In view Of the supposed aspira-
tions Of President Grant the subject has become
one Of great Importance and rises to the first mag.
nitude among that class OF political questions
which do not take party character For obvious
reasons no true friend OF reform can at present
wish 1t to be made party issue. The Constitution
cannot be amended without the concurrence OF
three.fourths OF the States 1t requires majority
OF two-thirds Of both houses Of Congress even to
submit an amendment to the States for their rati-
ncation; and Congress is 80 largely republican that
unless both parties favor this reform 1t cannot be
carried II is in the power Of the
republican statesmen to bring this question OF
Casarism to speedy test, and we hope they will
manfully do their duty. Let Senator Morton, who
broke ground in this direction last winter, or
some other republican OF similar standing propose
an amendment at the beginning Of the next ses-
sion and res0utely press 1t to vote. II Grant Is
not looking wstfully to third term there will be
no substantial opposition. But II the subject Ia
postponed, evaded and finally smothered by par
namentary tactics or the pretence Of other busi-
ness, the ambitious designs Of the administration
will be disclosed and the country be forewarned
and forearmed. We deprecate all attempts to
make this party question until the republicans in
Congress have had q fair opportunity to make it
clear that they Will not lend themselves as accom-
pices In establishing Imperialism on the ruins Of
American liberty.
From the Abingdon virglnian (democratic), July
1871
The NEW YORK HERALD Is at work considering
the probability of q third term for General Grant,
denouncing 1t Is inconsistent with true repub-
lcanism, and predicting the disastrous conse
quences which would follow 1t. Whether the warn.
Ing 1t gives In its elaborate articles Is sincere. or
whether these are but preudes to win attention
and support to such scheme as another term for
General Grant, to be followed by the empire yet re-
mains to be seen, but that the danger Of such
result really conironts the American people is
fully shown. There are, OF course, many ambi-
tious men whose hopes OF self-aggrandizement
might induce them to support such q treacherous
course. The increase Of luxury and wealth in the
hands OF bogus aristocracy begets desire for
distinction and gewgaws which titled nobility,
1t Is presumed, might indulge, and thus is found
another element favorable to such change. But
the most powerful and most numerous element.
and from whom most danger might be appre-
hended, IS the timid and fearful moneyed
class, the mercantile sand commercial men.
who dread changes and elections far more
than they do the eternal future which awaits
them; the men who feared that the success OF
Mr. Greeley would result In financial chaos and de-
structi0n; the men who have no patriotism outside
Of sordid materlasm which has wrecked every
previous attempt OF self-government, and who
would vote for anything or set OF men who
would guarantee the repose of peace Rnd
the maintenance Of the value Of government
bonds. Here are the elements plastic
and powerful, which present themselves
% the instruments whereby an ambitious,
selfish nature like Grants, under the only persua-
SONS Of men like Conkling and Others who fawn
around him, could be induced to believe itself
called, like Cesar, Napoleon Or Cromwell, to ele.
vate Itself f6 thr6he Under the specous plea That
the country needs his services" When any one
man becomes Indispensable to this country its'in-
capacity for sefgovernment is at once admitted,
and we should tear down the nag which waves
ue.n
From the Washington Qowa) Gazette, July 1871
The NEW YORK HERALD sees q disposition to
make Grant the candidate Of the radical party for
the Presidency three years hence. In this move 1t
has no sympathy, but apprehends danger. 1t may
we'll take alarm. Ali men who love liberty and
constitutional government may do so likewise
There has been much in the last eight years to
cause the Thoughtful and good to become alarmed.
The basis Of free government is being subverted
and the people seem willing to sit by and see 1t
done, without struggle to avoid 1t. Grant IL low
sordid and seldsh-just the kind OF man, under
whom other countries have lost their liberties.
The people must not establish the precedent OF
electing President the third time. The HERALD
sees 1t.
From the Charleston News (democrat), July 1871
A atron0 pank in the HERALD patfOrm