The New York herald., 1874-09-23
The Utica Convention and the Third
Term.


Term.
There is too much reason to fear that the
Republican State Convention will let slip an
opportunity of rendering useful service to
the party. The third term discussion would
be extinguished and public apprehension
queted if the republicans of the great State of
New York would join those OF the great State
of Pennsylvania in pronouncing against the
third election of President. There can lie
no doubt that the widespread belief that
General Grant desires third term Injuries the
republican party AS he has not thought fit,
after so great q lapse of time, to relieve the
party by disavowal, it is time for it to take
the subject into its own hands and set the
question at rest The republicans Of Pennsyl-
vania and Iowa have already declared their
sentiments, and il those Of New York would
add their voice it would be apparent to Presi-
dent Grant himself that his hopes of third
term are visionary. No man can be elected
with the two largest States against him, and
all the third term efforts and intrigues would
suddenly collapse if the Convention at Utica
should proclaim its hostility. Ii the public
suspicion is unjust to the President, and he
has really no such intention, he could not
take such resolution unkindly, since it could
thwart no purpose of his. But if he does
aspire to another election it is an impera-
tive party necessity, act Of self-preserva-
ton, to cause it to be understood by the
country that the republican party will not
tolerate this ambitious pretension. We sup
pose the only objection to such resolution
is the seeming dscourtesy of imputng to the
President wish which, after all, he may not
entertain. If the question were new there
would be force in this objection. But it has
occupied public attention for more than a
year, and for the last three months it has
been the most prominent topic of political
discussion The Presidents stubborn silence,
when dozen words might have cleared him
and his party, has deepened suspicion into
belief among multtudes of his countrymen.
After allowing him ample time for disavowal,
the party would give him no reason to complain
if it should do in it's own interest what he has
so suspciously neglected. The republicans
are already too heavily handicapped without
this additional weight.
If the Utica Convention should agreeably
disappoint the public by declaring against the
third term, it would naturally select some
courteous and delicate form of expression
But it would be more manly, more consistent
with republican simplicity and directness to
follow the example of Iowa rather than that
of Pennsylvania. Why should the people for
bear to express themselves with freedom on
any public question? The easiest way for the
Convention to sweeten the pill, if they fear it
would be taken as pill, would be to pnt in
one part of their platform strong resolution
approving General Grants conduct as Presi-
dent and indorsing his administration, and in
another part resolution expressing their re-
spect for the inviolable precedents set by Wash
ington and Jefferson. For obvious reasons
the Pennsylvania method of dissent cannot be
adopted in this State. Governor Dix, unlike
Governor Hartranft, is candidate in this
election, and it is quite enough for the Con-
vention to ask the people to recognize his
fitness tor one Office. Besides, o prefer
ence expressed for Governor Dix would
probably be taken as serious, whereas
the raining of Hartranft in Pennsylvania
could only be regarded as transparent veil
for another meaning. The nomination was
redeemed from burlesque only by its evident
purpose and the dignity of Hartranfts
official position. But Dix has such personal
fitness for the Presidency that repetition of
the Harrisburg tactics at Utica would be liable
to be misunderstood, and the same remark
would apply if like compliment were paid
to Senator Conkling.
There is, however, another method which
the Convention might adopt, equal to the
Harrisburg device in courtesy and not exposed
like it to the imputation of paying an in
sincere compliment to man who is used as
mere vehicle for conveying distasteful
intimation to the President The wsest
thing the Utica Convention could do would be
to recommend an immediate amendment Of
the constitution, limiting the President to q
single term OF six years. This might be done
with perfect sincerity both toward General
Grant and toward the public. 1t would not
ONLY commit the New York republicans
apainst third term without Offering O per-
sonal affront, but it would be good way of
starting an important reform of the federal
constitution. 1t is q change which has been
favored by many of our most distinguished
statesmen for two generations President
Jackson earnestly recommended it in every
one of his eight annual messages. Henry
Clay zealously advocated it in speeches and
letters after Jacksons retirement from the
Presidency. The third term excitement
would render such an amendment popular in
the North and secure its ratification by the
Northern Leg slatures if Congress should pro-
pose it. The Southern States would be GER
tain to ratify it, as they did similar provision
in the Confederate constitution. If the re-