Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-04
sOURIxG ON THE THIRD TERM.

The third term project had a queer
effect upon Republican candidates for
Office in the Northern and Western
States during the late campaign. They
all ridiculed 1t, yet felt impressed with
the necessity of saying in a public way
that they did not favor it. After the
Waterloo Of Ohio and Indiana, the Re
publicans felt that something more
than individual declarations of opposi-
ton to it was necessary, and SO an effort
was made to force Grant to publicly
decline a third term, but he refused
to do any such thing. Then the Gin
cianati Gazette published, by permits
sion of its author, Grants letter Of
May Il, 1872, in which he said with
reference to a second term:
Il have never written a line, done
an act, nor, l believe can say with
truth, entertained a thought calculated
to produce action by the Republican
party in favor of my promotion over
that of any other man IN it, who might
be their choice. l do now, as l did
four years ago, sincerely believe the
interests Of the whole country demand
the success of the Republican party.
If deemed advisable, l am willing to
make any sacrifice to accomplish that
success. I feel / did make a sacrifice
in giving up high position so highly
priced by me, one created for me by an
appreciative public, for which act l can
never thank them sufficiently. Now, if
l can be Of service to the party that
chose me then, shall render that SER
vice conscientiously, and to the best of
my ability"
This was published to allay the ex-
element about the matter of a third
term, and to assure the people that
Grant had not seriously thought of
such a contingency as becoming a can
didate again. But it failed of its pur-
pose, for it was at once inferred that if
he was so ready to yield to what could
be construed as the wish of the party in
1872, it was an easy matter for him to
fall into the same line eighteen months
hence, and upon precisely the
same plea, if he could be of
any service to the party, he
was ready to obey. The Repub-
Ecans, who felt how this third term
agitation and the uncertainty of
Grants position was hurting the party,
saw that it would be easy for him, with
his immense army of official retainers,
to manufacture a sentiment that would
demand his nomination for a third
term, have now commenced a vigorous
war upon his administration. The fol-
lowing article from the Baltimore
Americaa,' the Republican organ in
Maryland, is a significant specimen:
1t may be partly true, as President
Grant Is reported TO have asserted in
Cabinet meeting, that the third term
agitation rs due solely to the newspa-
pers, who had started it for the purpose
of creating a sensation and directing
attention to themselves" The news
papers he alluded to were doubtless the
Ner York Herald, Tribune and Sun.
But the President should bear IN mind
that the Washington Republican, sup
posed to speak by authority, has fur
nished the newspapers alluded to with
much of the material upon which they
have based their arguments. The agi-
tatiOn would have had little vitality,
and have passed out Of sight and hear
ing long ago, if it had not received
what was supposed to be official recog-
milton at Washington. Then, again,
whether the President intended
Il II not, the whole power of
the administration has been used
during thepast two years to place the
Republican organization in the States
II the almost exclusive possession and !
control of the office-holders. Even In
Mass aehusetts an attempt was made to |
secure control of the State organiza-
ton, which has developed itself in sew
eral of the Congressional districts. |
The omination of Mr.. Henry Alexan-
der in Mr.. Dawes district, and the |
of Mr.. Aver, of Cherry
PectoraI notoriety, as the successor of |
Judge Hoar, are the results of indirect |
Executive interference. In both these
districts, such astute observers as Vice 4