The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-29
The Venerable Custom,

lis refreshing to see how aiiectlo natel!!
the ancient custom Of limitation OF tue
presidential office to two terms of four years
each is regarded. Every man who has ever
filed the office wanted to serve not less than
tgo terms Of four years each; but the peo-
pie limited several to one term. iar'ies
have made great fight for Platform 'na,
proposed q Limitation Of The pres'den.'a'
ofs,ce,o one term of four or SIX years D"'
every President desired to stay III us sea'
for at least eight years.
Such earnestness, however, cnafactei'~''
the opposi,ion TO continuing president III
oeice for longer than eight years that we
spspect i. is inspired by something more than
mere respcc, for an ancient chs'om. we
susnect that great many newspapers ana
,,o,i.;cians wan, to make way for aspirants
n the Presidency. Most Of them are fifty
years old. and few years have great effect
upon their prospects! Every boo'talied
noli,ician in these days thinks he STANDS
chance 10 be President, and he always has
some followers who are taking chances for
office pnder somebody's administration, ana
therefore the aspirants for the ffes''
dsDcy and their parts,ns. are all OPP
posed 10 prolorging mans stay IN toe
Presidential chair. Wesce at once that since
the asprants and their parlisans cons'itu'e d
great part of the population OF the Unlteu
States, the party against third term-or Inc
denarturc from ga venerable custom "-must
he large. We need not be, therefore, sur
nrised at the wonderful respect which Is
shown for the venerable custom" None
other inspires so much venera'lon. Dep'rt-
u,e from it would break peoples hearts
That we are not a great way from the Gay
when the condition of the country VIII re-
ovrc the prolongation of the pres'dentia'
office we have not doubt. Men talk about
customs that are not even sanctioned by Ia"
as enduring. they are short-s'ghted. Even
lavs-both organic and statute-chapge" WIN
the changing conditions of a country, ana
the conventional uses Of nation and OF So
c;ety pass away far more easily than they oo'
The two terms of four years were suited 10
the period in which they were acquiesced.
The venerable men who were elected 10 the
presidency dreaded the burthensome cares OF
State for longer period. Things are charged
ard changing, and in time the old custom
will be thrown overheard.
But lust now the country is in most Pc
culiar condition. One part Of it is oppressed
politically, socially, and pecunarily. Any
change would be better for that part. It's
condition is so low that il can hardly be made
worse. If the people inhabitinS that part
could be materially bettered by electing a
nan 10 q third term-by departing IRON a
mere conventionaiSm Of the statesmen OF
other Gays-wby shouldn't they be glad OF
the opportunity? They would and should
welcome it.
But we very much fear that the conditions
on which we would agree TO "third-term
man will hardly be forthcoming, and we
conjecture after all the bob-tailed asplrants
to the Presidency and their friends will not
be put out much by third term. Those
whose claims are too poor to admit OF their
election will be hardly excluded from the
Presidency by third term.
We still adhere to our poicy--t. G., to 60
for a third" or any number of terms fol-
the man who will give the country honest
administration, equality to the States, ano
peace and prosperity 10 the South. lie is
our man all the time. This is the rea
"third term" man to all those who favor
that extension of the presidential office.