National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-28
THE THIRD TERN ONCE MORE.

THE THIRD TERM ONCE MORE.
The semi-oficial announcement in our
columns this morning, not Of the Presi-
dents views regarding the Third Term
question, but of his feelings regarding the
manner in which the discussion of it has
been carried on, will strike none Of our
readers as new or strange. They will bear
witness that at no time has THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN advanced the idea that Presi-
dent Grant would consent to be candi-
date for reelection, even if the tender of q
nomination should be made to him. The
candid observer viii readily admit that the
announcement to which we refer fully sus
tains our position. As we have repeatedly
explained, the discussion had its origin in
the sensational vagaries of the New York
Herald, which journal, during dull sum-
mer season, while its editor was in Paris,
started the twaddle about "Cesarism.
Finding that to be lame and impotent card
played by ITSELF the Third Term PROPOSE
ton was brought forward as the next trump
in the game to win leadership in the mat
ter of national sensation. From the very
start we have persistently declared this
view Of the case; but the Opposition jour
mails and others inimical to the Administra-
ton forced it upon public attention, and,
as journalists always DESTROYS of enlight-
ening the people, we have not hest
tated to take our part in the dis
cussion. We have felt that it might be
carried to such an extent as to result in po-
litical antagonisms which should be avoid
ed /; and for that reason have argued tbs
question in the abstract, not as applicable
to the present or any future incumbent Of
the office, but purely as a matter of princi-
pie and of constitutional law. We were
unable to find any reason why President
who had proved faithful and acceptable to
the people should not be continued in office
term after term, the same as Mr.. Sumner
and Mr.. Benton, for example, who were
repeatedly returned to the Senate. Butthe
conditio ion of affairs in every section Of the
Countryside riots and massacres in the
South, the cry for cheap transportation in
the West, and the financial disturbances in
the North-induced many thoughtful peo-
pie to take advantage Of our arguments for
the purpose Of suggesting General Grant
as the only person in the Republican party
who could with safety be intrusted with
the power Of the Government until those
important questions are settled. In this
way bis name became almost inseparably
connected with the controversy.
The South blazed with enthusiasm
over the prospect, far distant
as it was Of his reelection, while from
every section of the country the echo ofhis
praises was sounded and resounded again
and again. Then followed the October
elections, after which the Democracy, with
insidious cunning, took advantage of the
excited and disturbed condition Of affairs
to impress affrighted Republicans with the
belief that the Third Term business had
effected the unfortunate results which we
all so deeply deplore. Their object was to
divide the Republican party on foreign
issue, an issue in no way connected with
the November contests, and by so doing to
force the President to speak. They be-
numerous admirers would lose interest in
the campaign if his prospects were banished
from immediate consideration. They
further believed that he might be entrapped
into an expression of opinion or desire for
reelection before the party had ever begun
or thought of beginning to make prepare
tons for nominating convention. They
knew that such foolish act would readily
be construed as evidence 10 support their
malicious and false assertions that his am
bition for power overwhelms his patriotism
and overshadows his sense of propnety.
But, as usual, when they presume upon
such an estimate Of his character, they mis-
take the man. Quiet, modest and retiring,
he is satisfied to do his duty as his country
men require it of him; and with unexampled
absence of selfish interest, he has executed
the important trust confded to him with
out regard to anything save the best inter
ests of the country at large. Few men, if
any, have been tempted as he has with the
grateful love of free people, with power
almost untrammeled, and with every assur-
ance that health and strength, both physi-
cal and political, would attend any future
ambitious effort, and none have proved
themselves more equal to the patriotic task
imposed upon them. He stands to day as
firmly the obedient servant Of the people
and faithful officer of the Government as
he stood at Yicksburg and Appomattox,
and he is the same silent, discreet and de-
termined man that he was before Cesar
ism" and the "Third Term were ever
dreamed Of
4 MARES NEST