The New York herald., 1874-08-18
THE THIRD TERM.
Hon. Fernando Woods Opinion Of General
Grants Desires and the Chances for
Their Fulflment-Vice President
Wilson'S Strong Declaration.
LONG BRANoH, August Is, 1874.


Strolng along the beach this morning met
Fernando Wood coming out OF the surI and ac-
costed him as to the temperature OF the water
and how he enjoyed the path. He answered that
it was exceedingly delightful and healthy. Thus
finding him accessible for an interview intro
duced the subject OF politics.
Re said he had not come to the seaside to talk
politics with anybody. When he went to water
ing place to get rea XatiOn from the troubles
OF politics. reminded him that ne had
been spoken OF In New YORK daily
as having been interviewed at Saratoga on 1.-THE
third term.n He said he had seen in the paper
an alleged interview with him on that subject, in
which. among other absurd things, ne was nade
to say that the democratic party would take dog
for candidate rather tnan Grant. There was. he
said, no foundation for this asserlon he was not
In the habit OF using such language and whatever
his opinion or the public ana official conduct Of
Gen. Grant might be, he could not SO lar forget
himself as to speak disrespectfuly OF the President
OF the United States
THE DEMOCRACY OF NEW YORK STATE.
I then asked Mr.. Wood what he thought the
prospects of his party in New York would be in the
coming election. He replied that ne mad 70 doubt
as to the result OF the election. The democratic
party would succeed provided it made no very
great mistake in the selection Of candidate or
the enunciatlon OF principles at the State Conven.
ton. He thought that in politics, as
well as in other things, like causes pro-
duced Ike effects, and that AL OF the
elections held during the present year throughout
the States had shown weakening OF the republican
party, growing ont OF dissatisfaction OF the
people with the administration OF its public AFFAIRS
The elections In New Hampshire and Connecticut
last spring and OF the three Southern states in
which elections had been held during the summer
inevitably point to peryadng causes, alike exist.
ing everywhere. 1t is impossible to suppose that
the Influences which have created favorable re.
suits in those States cannot be operative in New
York. 1t is the influence of these causes and the
general breaking up OF the republican party that
Will elect the democratic candidate, without SO
much particular reference to who the individual
may be- He conceived that If positively obnox-
ious man were nominated it would injure the
ticket, but as far as ne knew no such man would
/ be presented to the convention 1or NOM
! ination. He said he thought Sanford
f. Church, Samuel J. Tden or Smith
NJ. Weed could be elected by from 10 900 to 20, 900
majority. He hopes MI. Sanford E. Church will
be nominated, because the prestige attached to
his name will cause sufficient enthusiasm TO Sc
cure to the democracy many doubtful Assembly
districts, which Is important In view Of the eiec-
ton o Senator to Ill the place OF Reuben f. Fem
ton.
THE DEMOCRACY AND A THIRD TERM.
n
thought would introduce the 'thrd termr sub
ject, and the probability OF the democracy at the
In reference to Grant, he said-"i have no
doubt as TO the desire o the President for tn I'd
term, but whether he will get 1t or NOT s quite an
other question. think he IS the strongest man In
the republican party ana think he will be the
nominee OF the republican convention, IN which
event he Will come out OF the campaign q worse
beaten man than Greeley in 1872 / dc
not say this because ! believe the people
or the country are committed B any way against
he "A a
There Is nothing in the constitution TO prevent It,
Tne precedent started with General Washington
that no man should hold the Office Ior more than
two terms. 1t may be wei, TOO, to state in this
connection. as matter OF history. that there
never has been President previous to the pres
cnt incumbent who had not declared himsel
unequvocally adverse to tilrd term, ana no
President was ever u candidate Tor third term
I can suppose that u condition OF public affairs
might exist and the connection OF President
! with those afairs might be Of that nature winch
would justify his friends in demanding his con
tinuance In oEice Tor d third term The public
exgencies IN times OF war might Justify the con
tinuance OF the Incumoent III Office Tor thrC
term. provided he had eminent ability TO manage
the then existing CONDITION ol affairs. Ba
there Is no. such condition Of afralr
now existing. The President has shown no abi ty
, Tor civil government, his administration mas peeI
connected with no great measures OF public wei
fare, and we're he TO die t0-iay no pubic interes
would suffer. Upon the contrary, horde OF politi
cal leeches VINO nave drained the life blood OF tn
, country would be made 10 let go their hold witt
every prospect OF putting better men IN thei
!, STRONG Personal CHARACTERISTICS
have said he would PROBABLY the nomine'
aLd was the strongest man in the republican
party because he has some strong personal cnaf
acteristics which render him the most ava1iaDl
candidate. ] assume. therefore, he viii be take
IN the nope and Deel that he Is the only man wh
can save the party rom total eXtlnguishment as
! political organization"
Here followed cursory conversation on ADMIN
Z stration affairs when lea TO the discussion
a Grants strength In the south, IN speaking OF wbic
Mr.. Wood said This subject has never bee
properly understood Az the North. General Graz
s has at no time had a respectable following In th
South certainly none among tue democrats
Is trlc thai iarye number % ni0-aer-- s--Sss7
f~-~sV~~7v.ON gentlemen az the south nave been pc
sonaliy friendly TO General Grant arising not on