The New York herald., 1874-07-08


This continuous and almost day recurrence to
the subject has no doubt famiiarized the public
With the idea, and helped to builo up powerful
party In favor Of the project which the HERALD
now mildly condemns, but will certainly approve OF
and support as soon as it appears feasible The
President himself probably never entertained the
idea OF running for third term till the HERALD
put IT into his head. There is an old anecdote told
OF a noster who, when at confession, was asked by
the priest If he never creased the teeth OF travel
lers' horses 80 as to prevent them from eat
ing the oats His reply was cnaracteris-
tic OF his country mo. your reverence,
never heard OF 1t before.n It II
almost needless to say that henceforth he had that
SIN 10 confess. The priest had put the idea into
his heaa' Just as the HERALD put the third term
"e@ ih'o the heaas OF the President and his adher
e"ts' 'uiy Two years In advance Of the time when
IL Is usual Ior the subject OF Presidential nomina
Tons 10 attract much public attention.
Today the HERALD has taken an important step
ID adVahce-in IN iurthering the supposed ambitious
views OF the President, by quoting the opinions Of
the Governor OF one important Southern State and
OF a United States Senator Of another, loreshadow.
ing the probability OF the Presidents running lor
third term founded on his known incunations and
OF his receiving cordial support from all the
Southern States on account OF his sympathy with
the people Of that section, and OF mis- desire to
do them justice. In editorial the herald as
usual, mildly protests and calls the President
TO declare he viii not on any consideration accept
third nomination. This declaration the HERALD
knows Is q necessary step in the programme.
Everybody knows what such refusals mean before
the proner Is made. 1t Is the one thing needed to
stimulate the Presidents adherents to vigorous
action. Nothing whets the public desire to have
thing done so much as to behold o man mOdestly
refusing an honor that has not yet been proposed.
In fact, 1t is hardly possible for man to become
President without having gone through this little
bit of legerdemain of saying 'No" first. 1t quite
certain that none OF our great statesmen who have
been known to aspire 10 the ONCE OF Chief Magis-
rrate have succeeded In attaining II. The
cases OF Henry Clay and Webster, OF Generals
Scott and Cass, and notably OF Horace Greeley
and Chief Justice Chase. illustrate the Wild axiom
laid down By more astute but less brilliant
statesman who did succeed, that "5he offlce OF
President was too exalted to be sought after or
refused when offered"
There is one consolation for those who think 1t In.
expedient that President should be accorded
third term, and that Is that the HERALD's candi-
dates have never been elected though that pro-
found organ OF public opinion perhaps might be
able to prove from it's files that they have always
won. Yours &C.. FL. B. w.
NEW YORK, July 8, 1874.
Opposition Must BE Moro Than Mere
Negation.
From the st. Louis Gobe.]
There have been not only serious suggestions OF
the tnlrd term, but serious suggestions that II
might be inevitable. 1t Is only the plain truth
that no inspiration from the President himself has
originated these suggestions, and in looking else :
where for the causes which have compelled the
discussion Of the question see very strong rea-
tor o1io
which may not be easy to check or control.
Before the President has opened his mouth on the
third term question We find both the people and
the press opposing it something which threatens
danger and we disposed to trust their Instincts
We hnd the people saying they have no. heretofore
taken any interest in politics. and 1t Is very possl'
bic that while they have been thus taxing their
ease q state OF circumstances may have arisen
which Will render their present tardy interest
quite lutie and as for the newspapers, they are
to be divided into those which have stead,Iy
abused and vilihed the President and those winch
have defended and praised him with equal lack OF
reason. 1t is chiefly due to these two uses-t0
the absence Of an intelligent interest politics on
the par. OF the people and to the absence OF an in
telligent treatment on the part o! the newspa
pers-that individuals have been able to obtain IN
politics an Influence out Of all proportion to our
Ideas OF democratic government, and naturally
the holder OF the highest position Is the most pow
erlu. We believe that the majority OF the people
of the United States both republicans and demo-
Gratis, would be opposed to third term; but II
the majority are divided between the mselvcs, they
may be quite as poweress as IL they were a small
minority. mere negatlon does not suffice IN
politics, and unless those who are opposed 10 "a
third election Of President Grant can mould the
opposition to him into a more tangible shape than
mere negation and concentrate their suppor1 on
some other candidate, might as well settle
down to acknowledging Grant as President ioi
lie.
Senator Gordon's Conclusions.
From the Tribunel
Senator Gordon, OF Georgia, who profes ses TO be
every intimate" with General Grant, and believes
that he Is welcomed Mt the White House with as
much cordial!ty as any one, has been talking TO a
reporter OF the Atlanta Herald about the prospects