The Grange advance., 1874-07-01
The Proposed Third Term for General
Grant.

The Proposed Third Term for General
Grant.
Without being particularly demon
strative in politics, this journal favored
Gen. Grant for President. He is now
serving his second term. No President
has ever served more than two terms.
George Washington, the Father of his
Country and its first President, was the
first to set the example Of declining
even to be a candidate for third
term. This voluntary relinquinish-
ment Of power has been regarded by
many as the crowning glory Of his
most illustrious character. !
John Adams, the second President,
was not reelected, and consequently
served but single term.
Thomas Jefferson, nor third Presi-
dent and author of the Declaration of
Independence, followed the example Of
Washington. So did James Madison,
than whom no man acted a more i'm
portant part in the formation and es-
tablishment Of our Constitution. So
did James Monroe.
John Quincy Adams, like his father
was elected only once.
This brought US to the time Of An
drew Jackson. The opposition to
him was very violent, but the support
Of him was still more powerful He
had been military man and possessed
an iron will. 1t began to be reported,
and soon became pretty generally
believed, that he would seek third
term. But the old hero took an early
occasion, in message to Congress, to
disclaim any such intention, and thus
promptly to silence what he evidently
regarded as scandal.
Van Buren, was elected only once.
Harrison and Taylor both died soon
after entering upon their respective
terms.
Tyler and Fillmore were never elected
President, but succeeded as Vice-Pres-
ident, the former to Harrison, the lat
ter to Taylor.
Franklin Pierce was not so much as
nominated for reelection. Neither
was Buchanan.
Lincoln was assassinated after enter
ing upon his second term: and John
son, who succeeded him, barely squeezed
through, after impeachment, single
term.
Thus we see that, in the long line OF
Presidents, there is no precedent to be
found for even so much as an attempt
to be elected third term. To be sure
there is no provision in our written
constitution against third term. But
the tradition which limits the Office Of
President to eight years has become 50
fixed and sanctifed, in the minds Of the
people, by the uniform example Of our
greatest men, that it possesses all the
force of constitutional provision.
Any attempt to depart from it now
would be looked upon with we'll.
grounded suspicion as the first treacher-
GUS step toward the overthrow of Lib.
erty and the foundation of Empire.
We do not doubt that such a move.
ment would be met by most crushing
defeat. But this would not be all
the popular reprobation would blacken
and brand the name of him who should
seek to be satiated by longer lease Of
power than that which Washington
and Jefferson, and Madison, and Mon.
roe, and Jackson found sufficient to fil
the measure Of their ambition. No rep.
utation is so high that it cannot be sac
rifced. Arnold was unqestionably one
of the greatest Generals Of the Revoiu
ton; but, beneath the obloquy and in.
fanny which cover him, even his militia
ry genius is lost to view.
At the end Of eight years Gen
Grant will quietly walk out of the
White House, or he will forever place
himself outside Of the esteem Of tn,
American people.-Ledger.