The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-09-17
CESARISM = THE THIRD TERM
- - PRINCIPLE.

the reelection of President Gram
to a third term-the New York
Herald, which inaugurated the dis
cussion, adds from day to day 1ul
material for arriving at proper
conclusion, in the view OF leading
statesmen of all parties and from
all sections, which arc published
in its columns. Neither, however
the discussions in the press nor the
sentiments of politicians who have
been interviewed would seem to
indicate any serious fear from this
cause. Various as arc the views
expressed, they seem generally to
agree in holding that the President
has no design at present Of playing
the part of the modern Cesar, and
that even if so disposed, bis success
would be very problematical. These
conclusions are thus expressed by
Jud dge Packer, of Pennsylvania, to
a correspondent of the Herald: -.
ssThe present moment is oppor-
tune for the discussion, not because
President Grant is filling his second
term and, may desire THIRD, but
for the reason that the period OF
service should be fixed ullalterably
hy law, and not by sentiment. Sen
timent cannot conquer need. The
subject has only relation to Caesar
ism in the future, for | do not con-
slider that President Grant is desl-
rous of making mselkimperator.
lie IS. 1 Judge, devoid of ambition
and industrious even of another
term of office. Still, he may be
urged by his "fricnds" to accept,
even to epdcavor to bring about a
third nomination. There are chords
in his organization that can be
played upon to make a music that
he is ever desirous to hear. And
there arc among his ''friends' 8
number of master musicians: Sec
how they played upon him in tho
Louisiana matter. We're 1T not
that the pcople know the character
Of those political musicians, they
might do even greater mischief
than they have done. Upon this
knowledge of the people, and the
fact that the "musicians" are COM
ing forward as the chief champions
of the republican party, supporting
and being supported by the admin
istration, 1 base belief in the neaI
dissolution of their party. The
evidence is very clear. Butler
comes up in Massachusetts as a can,
didate for Governor, and, though
he is propped by the Washington
patronage, all the reputable leaders
of his party denounce and oppose
him, while they declare a continued
fealty to the administration. That
is the first revolt, and therein is the
primary symptom of the radlca
ptarty's disruption. The greater
politicians denounce and oppose
while the lesser ones support Gen
eral Butler. If the present rcputa
BILE Massachusetts, political men dc
not, in the event of Buffers elcc
ton, prove themselves meaner, by
giving their support to him, thai
those who, urged by administration
patronage, give aid to him at pres
ent, the breaking up Of the radlca
partywill be complete in the Bay
State. Once we'll started, the re-
volt will spread throughout the
country. In every State the emu
sicians,' who are now sopleasantl!y
placed, will be overthrown. AL
these facts bear against the posi-.
bility of Cmsarism, with General
Grant as its exponent. But, as !
= said before, I do not think the
President wants to be Cesar"
The Herald itself has not assumed
that General Grant desires a con-
tinuance in office, nor that he him
self would abuse its power for the
purpose of securing its perpetual
ton, but that with the present ten
depcy to centralism in the Goycrn-
mept, through its increased power
and enormous patronage, the cleo
ton of the President to a third
term would serve as fatal prece-
dent to enable some unscrqpulous
successor to usurp absolute rule.
A leading English journal, the
Pail Null Gazette, which discusses
American affairs with intelligence
and discrimination, thinks that the
circumstances Of the times are
very aaspicious to the se-election of
Grant, and that such a result would
be pregnant with danger to the flu
ture liberties of the country. 1t
finds grouud for the first view in
the fact that Grant is indeed the
only prominent man of his party,
and that that party, with the pres
tige of success and its thorough