The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-08-22
The ThIrd.Term Babble.

Az .I3SL III a0vOcstte Oi Tie tulru-bcIm
policy has been found, and, for that
matter, of the lfe-term plan. He is the
editor of the Elizabeth pa. Monitor.
He wants Gen. Grant kept in the Presi-
DENTAL chair as long as he continues to
" do right by all classes and conditions. T"
The Monitor man, would have had the
Constitution so framed as to give Presi7
dents, like national, Judges, q lease Of
Office for life or good behavior.
This vagary would be of no conse-
quence and deserve no notice had it not
been seized upon by the Tribune and
held up rs specimen of Republican
sentiment. So far from that, not o sim
gle Republican paper of my influence
has in any waJ favored the suggestion.
On the contrary, they have taken occa-
sion to scout the idea as preposterous.
It does not call for serious discussion.
That would give the impression that
there is at least n faction of the party
which really wants to run President
Grant o third time. Such is not the
case. @' OF course, a few efiice-holders
would like to perpetuate themselves IN
office, and think that new President
might cut off their heads, and they are
SO far right. 1t is quite certain that
there will be far more changes in Fed
eral Offices in the spring OF 1877 than
there were last spring. And that is one
reason why Q third term is out of the
question. The people will by that time
want change. The American public
has special horror of " barnacleism. I"
Call it wise or foolish, account for it as
you will, the fact itself is indubitable.
So very plain is it that no man of sense,
however much he might desire the third
election of President Grant, would favor
his third candidacy. Nothing but 9
blunder almost miraculous on the part
Of the opposition could elect Gen.
| Grant a third time, even though his
second term should be more satisfactory
than was his first.
No inconsiderable portion of the in
telligent public believes that tine Con-
stitution forbids third Presidential
term. Such is not the case. Yet it is, SO
in effect. So far as concerns the written
law, there is no prohibition. The letter
of the Constitution is silent on the sub
ject. But there is an unwritten consti-
tuition, as there is an unwritten common
law. and that is wholly opposed to the
third term. We hear much about the
British Constitution. but Great Britain
has no other Constitution than the force
of enstom and the recognized voice of
the people. heard through a long series
of wears making the same demand.
The Presidential article of the un-
written American Constitution was pro-
posed by George Washington. He
could have perpetuated himself in
Office, and SO far as the immediate fu-
ture was concerned, it would have been
a good thing. John Adams was not SIS
we'll adapted to the Presidency as WASH
| inyton. But the Father of his Country
took the position that if he should re-
main in Office twelve years, other Presi-
dents might, and sooner or later bad
| man would improve the opportunity
thus afforded to perpetrate himself in
Office indefinitely. His prescient vision
foresaw the danger of having in the
United States what the Old World Re-