New-York tribune., 1874-09-11
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
A THIRD TERM.

THE MOVEMENT EARNEsT-NOT A JOKE.
THE FEELERs PUT OUT BY THE sIr=Srs
ORGAN.
ATTITUDE OF THE PREss-REw ADMINISTRATION
PAPERS CoYDEMNING TT--soME STRONG ONES
OPENLY FOR 1.-THE OFFICE HOLDERS FOR IT.
THE PRESIDENTS ISTIMATEs FOR IT.
For long time the talk about Gen. Grants
candidacy for third term was regarded joke.
The idea foreign, not only to the thoughts Of
the American people, but to what they had come to
regard as part of their settled constitute
tional precedents that few were willing to believe
that Gen. Grant desired it, that, if he did, any
party would support him. Suddenly, however, his
own immediate organ a paper Of no consequence
save as it unquestionably expresses tho
ideas and promptly responds to the wishes
of the President and those fabout HIM
The Washington National RepublicdR-began to feel
the public pulse the subject. 1t carefully oided
saying that Gen. Grant was candidate, was
not at all certain even that he would ac-
cept the nomination if rendered but was
excessively persistent in discussing tho
question on abstract grounds, and attempting to
familiarize the public mind with it q serious
matter. 1t was well known that not day passed
in which its editors did not call at the White House
for inspiration; and for some time scarcely q
day passed without an editorial on the third term
movement, following these conferences. BY aud by
the infection began to spread One Southern paper
after another declared in favor of the third term.
1t is now known that, in spite of Gov. Morton's
denial, it was the Presidents purpose to
veto the Civil Rights bill, and this
doubtless stimulated the Southern movement.
The Republican continued to fan the fame and de-
clare that circumstances might arise which would
make Gen. Grants candidacy for third term not
only possible but probable. The oice-holders about
the White House presently adopted the same tone,
while those in New-York became curiously
commital. Politicians whom the President treated
with special distinction went away from his dinner
table to declare in favor of third term.
Among them were men whom the President
had specially taken up and patronized,
like Gov. Hebert of Louisiana, Mosby and
Kemper of Virginia, and Others. The sig
nificant fact was that nearly all the declarations
came like the utterances of the organ, after long
personal interviews with the President. Gen.
Gordon was quoted in the same way, but he sub
sequently said he had been misrepresented.
Ex-Chief-J Justice Lochrane of Georgia and
many other prominent men of the South together
with many prominent Southern papers, declared
more or less guardedly for third term. Men
spoke OF it freely and as matter
of course the Presidents presence
without provoking rebuke or the slightest sign OF
dIsapproyal and on one or two occasions banners
containing third term sentiments appeared IN the
professions in the Presidents honor in his late
Eastern trip, which he regarded with the same
equanimity.
The matter has thus passed beyond the limits Of
Joke. If the President not actively working for
third term it is obvious that his friends are; and
that they continue, while doing to enjoy his con-
idence and approval.
Herewith are given pretty fully the remarkable
articles in the White House organ, which first
brought the matter up as serions sub
iect and something Of the newspaper
discussion which it developed. In general, it may
be said that the strongest papers north of the Po-
tomac which were induced to commit them
selves to the third term were The Bdht-
more american and The Nec-YOrk Graphic -
that general tendency to tolerate, if not to en-
brace it, was developed at the South, and that while
Northern Republican papers were unmistaka5ly dis
inclined to it, the number who were willing
to denounce it (outside of Boston, was small. Such
facts have obviously influenced the various Repub-
ican Democratic, and other Conventions which have
lately declared themselves in form another on
the third term movement and the approach of the
Administration and Democratic Conventions Ia
New-York lend interest TO the summary OF the
newspaper discussion herewith presented.