The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-25

| THE THIRD TERH.-The Chronicle has not
] vet had it's say on the prominent topic of ed.
itorial disquisition for the last few months
the "third.term" question. 1t proposes to
saw few words this week and thereafter
hold its peace until the developments of the
future call for discussion. IN
| On the abstract question of the propFiety
of electing the same man to the presidency
for three successive terms, we are free to say
that in the past We have regardedI 1t as I'M
wise, and have always favored O. restric.
ton to single term. But we are not
living in the past; We are surrounded
by different circumstances and exposed to
certain contingencies which may justify a
departure from old landmarks. Therefore
we regard it as unwise to commit this paper
to unconditional opposition to the "shird-
term" principle. a contemporary we'll puts
the whole matter of General Grants sue
cessien when it remarks that it may be bet
| ter to accept him for third term than some
| body else for first. In other words, there
are many leading men OF the Repub-
lican party more Questionable than General
Grant, and it may be plainly the interest OF
| the southern people to lend their influence
and aid for bis reelection in order to defeat
more obnoxious candidate; therefore were
gard it as folly to declare, as some OF eur
Virginia journals do, that under no possible
circumstances will the people of Virginia
support General Graat for another term.
Better, say they. when descanting upon the
evil tendencies of successive elections to the
presidential office as liEs!y to result in q per-
manent leasehod of that exalted position,
"better 10 bear the ills we have than fly to
others that we know not Of" Precisely so /;
h, Of fl,ac r1f, root
that we can imagine the support Of Grant by
the southern people not only possible. but
a proper thing
There is q class Of men in the South who
are naturally extremists (devotees to ine-
spun theories of government and thread5are
political dogmas), who pride themselves on
their pluck, and make a tremendous show Of
game cock chivalry and independence. Such
men live in the almost forgotten Slor!es of
the past, when liberty was something more
than name, and Eepublicanism not 2 mere
sham. They have not realized the fast that
we have passed through wonderful revou.
ton, and that the principles OF government
10 this country have been simplitsd, and
reeMccd to
uthe good cid rule, the simple plan,
That they may take who have the power,
And they may keep who can"
For many long years they have been living
under the stern discipline of practical des-
potism, ever learning but never coming to q
realizing knowledge of the truth that since
freedom gave that terrific shrek at Apo
mattoy Courthouse we of The South have
been under the heels Of conqueror, not in
the person of Ulysses S. Grant, but in the
embodiment of that overwhelming and i'm
placable party organization which bore him
| in triumph from the battlefield to the presi.
dental chair. Instead Of recognizing the fact
that the matter of prime importance with US
| is to break the power Of thai party whose
aYoWed purpose is to inflict the most iniqui-
tous wrongs upon the white people Of the
South, and which has not scrupled to set at
naught and rutblessly violate the most sacred
guarantees of the Constitution to accom-.
plish its designs, We find these last.ditch
gentlemen shocked to their soot.soles at the
bare Suggestion Of third term, because it
would violate the spirit Of our institutions
and pave the way to imperialism. What
boshl Surely there is no fatality in the
figure three, or even In the figure seven,
i that we should so dread its ntterance.
| We,haye written thus not because OF any
i present preference for the reelection oil
General Grant. On the contrary, we dis
ayow any such prediction; but We do con-
slider it not only unwise, but absolutely fool.
|ish to say that in no possible contingency
i will we support him. 1t is too early in the
game to be pledging ourselves to any. par
ticuar line of action, and our true policy al
individuals and as party Is to stand firmly
| in our position Of untrammelled independ
4 ence, prepared to pursue that course which
l will most surely s'raise our bleeding country
i from the dust and set her free."- Charsottes
/ nile Chronicle. ss.ts.