The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-10-17
The Third Tern.

Hapers Weekly, neof the most stead
fast adherents Of President Grant iu the
country, thus speaks in reference to
third term:
Why, then, should, the President he re.
nolninatedg That he has been good and
patriotic magistrate Is true but IL that be q
sufficient reason for third term, Il Is a snfk.
Constitution and our theory of government
assume that the Chief Magistrate viii be honess
and patriotic, but they provide for a stated
election, that the evils Of a permanent tenure
may be avoided. However excellent an
officer the President may be, il can not be
supposed that he is the only citizen who can
properly FL the Office, and it must therefore
be shown that the advantages of continuing
him would plainly be greater than the perils
Of the precedent. These peFils are Of two
kinds; the first IS indicated by jefferson.
"The danger is, he said, shat the indulgence
and attachments Of the people will keep a
man in the chair after be becomes a dotard,
that reelection through life shall become
habitual, and election for life follow that
General Washington set the example Of
voluntary retirement after eight years. i shall
follow IL And a faw more precedents will
oppose the obstacles Of habit to any one after
while who shall endearor to extend his
term" He said in reply to requests not 10
retire that definite period of retiring would
tend to secure the elective form Of government
and that if term were not fixed By the Con
stitution or supplied BY practice, the Office
would practically become one for life, and
that would easily degenerate into an inherit.
anee.
These views Of Jefferson's may be regarded
as purely theoretical, and il may be thoughts
sufficient answer to say that if the people can
not be trusted 10 re-elect, they can not be
trusted 10 elect, and that nothing can be more
absurd than that they should forbid them.
selves to re-elect magistrate who had shown
himself peculiarly capable. But this answer,
which might have been conclusive in Jeifer-
sons time, is Of very much less weight now
that the power of President to command his
own denomination through patronage has be-
come SO enormous. Indeed, this IS the great
practical objection. The power Of patronage,
Of an immense organization Of placemen, is a
very familiar and threatening fact. Nor is it
necessary for President openly to dictate
his denomination to an organized body whose
own interests demand it. Under existing
circumstances, therefore, and without suppos.
ing the least III attention upon the part of
General Grant, the project Of third term
should be strenuously opposed as the begin
ming of the radical change in the government.
No emergency requires il, for, whatever the
condition Of the Southern States. it is such as
any properly qualified Republican President
could deal with; to suppose that General
Grant is the only Republican who could be
electedis to believe the Republican ascendancy
much more fatally shaken than we hold It to
be. Indeed, should he unwisely be renomina-
ted, mere choice Of evils would be forced
upon great multitude Of Republicans They
would be compelled to decide whether the
precedent of third term would be more
perilous than Democratic restoration and
as many would think even the latter prefera-
bic, denomination would seem TO be precisely
the way 70 secure Republican defeat