Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-10-11
Jackson and the Third Term.

memory OF JACKSON by industriously
circulating statements to the effect
that the old hero in his lifetime as
pired to third Presidential term. 1t
requires no great amount of moral or
physical courage to kick dead lion,
and these slahderers are welcome to
all the credit that attaches to such an
act. But we venture to assert that
were JACKSON living, their courage,
like that of Bob ACRES, would have
oozed out at their fingers ends before
uttering such base SANDER upon his
memory. Among these apologists we
notice the distinguished names of
number of political soldiers of fortune
mere "war HOSES" belonging to
the great Democratic stud, who, for
the past decade and q half, have been
browsing around and picking up
precarious subsistence upon the sterile
plains of "war-hoss" Democracy;
and, notably among them, one JAMES
LYONS, of Virginia, who comes out
boldly for GRANT and the third term,
and quotes ALEXANDER HAMILTON as
authority for the third term move.
Had Mr.. JAMES LYONS appealed to the
real sentiment of Mr.. HAMILTON, he
need not have stopped at the third
term, but could have gone on for
life term, or even hereditary success
sion to the Presidency. Mr.. HAMIL.
TON, in his day. was never looked upon
as particular apostle of Democracy
(ride the Federalist), but as he grace
fully yielded to the popular sentiment
of the day, and by his splendid abili-
ties rendered the infant Republic great
service in many ways, and particular
ly in placing her finances on solid
foundation, we are willing to drop
the curtain upon his political status. In
the interest of Democracy, Mr.. JAMES
LYONS would have found THOMAS
JEFFERSON much better authority;
but, as he could find nothing in the
life or teachings of this great apostle
of Democracy which would warrant
his recent gymnastics in the political
arena, he was forced to go out of his
legitimate fold and appeal to Mr.. HAM
ILToN. But the ways of political ''war
bosses" are devious and past under
standing. The fact is, these Demo-
cratic "war hosses" not being blessed
with the patience of the very respect
able Mr.. MICAwBER, and becoming
tired of waiting for something to
turn up" have suddenly Topped over
into the fold of the party with seven
principles-the two loaves and five
fshes-with GRANT as master of cere-
monies. JACKSON has left his impress
indelibly upon the minds of the world,
and particularly upon the people of
the United States. Faults he may
have committed, and we, one of his
staunchest admirers, concede the fact
but, being convinced no man was
more ready to acknowledge and re-
trieve them. But is there man,
woman or child within the boundaries
of the United States, from Maine to
Louisiana and from the great lakes to
the seashore, who ever doubted his
patriotism and honesty of purpose ?
If there are such, let them speak out
or "forever hold their peace" Let
these slanderers point out single act
of his life, an utterance, or document
them in their base assault upon his
memory. Are there no old men
among us who knew JACKSON person.
ally, or witnessed his triumphant re-
turn home from Washington in 1885?
"a worn-out, subdued old man, with
scarce strength enough to stand while
receiving the plaudit of "well done,
thou good and faithful servant" from
his grateful fellow-citizens who had
assembled in thousands at every sta
ton and steamboat landing through
which he passed. There is at least
one among us who had the pleasure
OF meeting him at Louisville
on that occasion, and will
never forget his snow-white hair and
worn-out looks, or the words he then
uttered. In answer to the sympa-
thetic looks, rather than the words, of
the friends around him, he said: eyes,
my friends; the Presidential office is
no sinecure, and I have grown old and
feeble. My mission upon earth,
whether for veal or woe, is now ended
and am thus far on my way home,
where should have been four years
ago." And yet this old man is accus-
ed by these men of having aspired to
a third Presidential term, and that he
"would have entered the field had it
not been for the advice of his friends
The idea is preposterous and is only
worthy of the source whence it ma
mates. JACKSON never had a secret
he was as open as the day-and his
greatest abomination was the man
who solicited a private interview with
him. His invariable answer was: "I
have no secrets, sir; if you have any
thing to say that will not bear the
light Of day, L do not want to hear it,"
AS for the "advice of friendsu pre-
venting him from coming before the
people for third term, it is an unmit-