New-York tribune., 1874-10-31
NOT TOO LATE TO SPEAK.

political situation is the continued silence OF
the President upon the subject of Third
Term. Remarkable because, in the existing
state of facts, there is nothing to be gained
and much to be lost by it. Remarkable as an
exhibition not only of the ingratitude OF Gen.
Grant to the party which has been so devoted
to bis success and so loyal to his personal for
tunes and which is now, in the Judgment of its
most sagaciOus leaders, put in jeopardy by MS
refusal to speak, but also as an exhibition OF
mere stubbOrnness without any purpose or OBJ
iect. He certainly knows by this time that the
suspicion which through his own silence and
the indiscretiOns of his OfficehOlding dependents
has deepened into conviction that the
Third Term conspiracy is fact and
not chimera has seriously damaged the
party He has been told by those nearest him
in the Cabinet and in official relation that
word of denial from him might save the party
from impending defeat. He has turned off all
such suggestions with the answer that the
agitation had been begun by newspapers to
draw attention to themselves, and that he
would not sacrifice his dignity or please the
newspapers so much as to give 1t any atten-
tOn whatever.
There is obviously but one Interpretation to
put upon his conduct. However the course OF
recent political events may have changed his
opinion, it cannot be doubted that the idea
of Third Term has been very pleasing to him,
and that he has more than tOyed with
the suggestion. Probably he has by this
time discovered that the hatterers who
surrounded him and held out to him
the gittering proposal did not speak for the
people, but only for the limited circle OF de-
pendents upon official patronage 1t may
have dawned upon him that it is not at all
practicable that the discussion of the subject
by the newspapers has killed it, That being
the case, he may think that while he has
nothing to gain by speaking out, he has yet
nothing to lose by silence; only the party
will be the sufferer, and if he is not to be a
candidate for reelection it is hardly worth his
while to go to the trouble of making declara-
ton on the subject merely to save the party.
He has O very bitter feeling towards the news
papers, and he will not crafty them by speak
ing merely to assist a party for which he has
no further use. This attitude OF course Is
very admirable for its exhibition of what his
friends are fond of calling his Roman firm
ness
And yet it is little singular that he does
not see his way to make such declaration as
will be satisfactory to his party friends who
are urging him to this step. and at the same
time not compromise entirely his prospects,
He might even now signify his intention not
to be candidate for reelection. What would
be its effectf In our opinion, 1t is too late to
have any upon next weeks elections. 1t could
not save the party from the serious losses and
probable defeat which impend. But it would
save him the friendship of many influential
Republicans who are candidates for office,
selves to be heavily handicapped by
the Third Term question. And as
for its effect upon his own prospects, it would
upon the whole rather improve them by saw
ing to him the friendship of men who can
help him. After that, whatiso easy for the
men who have kept the South in condition
to have always plentiful supply of outrages
on hand for political consumption, as to con-
tinue that condition till the Presidential can
vass of 1876. and then go into Convention
with the argument that the situation at the
South will not permit change in the Execu-
tiye7 No matter for his withdrawal, or his
declaration q year and half before that
he would not be a candidate for re-
election-times have changed since then,
and his denomination, with or without
his consent, is imperatively demanded. What
so easy as this to the men who manage
the party and run the Convcntonsf And
what so easy as for the President to recon-
slider and accepti Would not such statesmen
as Mr.. Butler advise itf And do not the con-
n &c tha nv
the direction of Mr.. Butler?
1t may be too late for the President to save
the party, but it is not impossible for him to
save himself And that after all, is the chief
consideration with him.
PROTECTION OR OPPRESSIONf