The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-23
The ~Third Term Talk" to he
StODped.

For more than a year, a number
of the leading newspapers OF the
country have been continually harp
ing upon what they were pleased to
call President Grants aspirations
for third term" So persistently
have they dwelt upon this matter,
and so slow have the Republican or
gans been to deny that it was IN the
plans of the party organizers to pre-
sent the General as a candidate IN
1876, that gradually the belief has
become common that such is the de-
sire of the President, and the pur-
purpose of the leaders of his party.
To be sure, there have been occa-
sional disclaimers in few Republi-
can papers, of any such intention
or desire upon the part of the party
leaders or the President himself, but
they appeared so infrequently, and
in spirit so devoid of earnestness,
that they failed to quiet the uproar
made by the opponents of the Pres
ident and his party.
But, since the elections in Ohio
and Indiana have gone largely
against the Republicans, the mana
gers of that party, thinking that the
uninterrupted cry about the third
term had, in measure, brought
about their defeat, have deemed 1t
essential to the salvation of the par
ty at large, that quietus be put up
on the whole business at once by an
announcement from the President
himself, to the effect that he will,
under no circumstances, be a can
didate for reelection, and that he
never had any intention of seeking
a third term that all the talk and
publications therefore, made about
the matter were instigated by med
dlesome, third-rate politicians, main
ly with a view to enable them to
have something of general interest,
whether it were founded upon truth
or not, to talk and write about
Accordingly, it is announced from
Washington that
"There is the very best authority for
the statement that the President has
grown weary of the third-term talk, and
has intimated his purpose to publicly
define his position on that subject at an
early day. He will disclaim all hope or
ambition for a second reelection, and
will assert his purpose not to be can
didate again, though he should be re-
nominated in Convention. From the
same source the information is had that
the White House ticket for 1876 will be
Washburne, of Illinois, for the first
place, and Speaker Blaine for Vice
President. 1t is understood that Blaine
will consent to take the second place.
This statement of the Presidents posi-
ton with regard to the third term pro-
ject comes from such a quarter and in
such shape that it is entitled to the full
est credence, as will be demonstrated by
the action of the President within fe~
weeks"
We are not of those who believe
that the third-term talk had any
considerable weight, as against the
Republicans, in the recent canvass
in this State and Indiana; but we
are of opinion that if the Repub-
lican leaders think that by remov-
ing all cause for further discussion
OF the subject, they will thereby re-
move the great obstacle in the way
to future successes of their party,
they will find in due time that they
have been very greatly mistaken as
to the true cause of their defeat.
Plainly, it was owing principally to
two things. First, the veto of the
finance bill, and second, the enthu-
siastic support which was given the
"Women's Crusade" by the Repub-
lican press, generally. These were
the things, and not the third-term
talk, that knocked the wind out of
the Republican tickets at the late
elections.