The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-11-04
Third Term.

Much has been said, and much will
doubtless still be said, about Caesar
ism" and the desire of the President to
secure reelection in 1876. The facts
of the case seem, however, to lie in a
very small compass.
There appears to be no certain
ground for believing that Gen. Grant
has any idea Of working for a third
term. He has said nothing whatever
on the subject, one way or the other.
But it must be admitted that news
paper at Washington, which the Ad-
ministration undoubtedly controls
we may almost say owns-has on sew
eral occasions published articles, sup
posed to be "inspired,' which defend
and advocate the third-term scheme.
These articles have been quoted all
over the country as representing the
real wishes and opinions of Gen. Grant.
1t is quite possible that the President
knew nothing of these articles until
they actually appeared. He may yet
find that a bought and paid for 'organ'
has powers to do harm-to misrepre
sent him and place him in false posi-
ton before the public-but no power
to do him good. Independent support
is sure to he tempered at times with
adverse criticism, and the President
has certainly made no secret of the
fact that he will not brook adverse
criticism. Consequently, he will have
"organs" to represent him; and he
must not be surprised if they do him
infinite mischief. There is no estima-
ting how many of his supporters the
''home organ" at Washington has es-
tranged from him, and it has given
him no new supporters in their place.
Again, the opposition papers have
been asserting for a year and q half
that Gen. Grant is determined to get
the Republican nomination in 1876 if
he possibly can-that he is bringing
all his enormous patronage and infu-
ence to bear on that particular object.
These statements, necessarily repeated
have derived some show of plausibility
from the articles in the Washington
paper, which, if not actually inspired
could not have appeared without sane
ton from high quarters.
Thus it has happened, in one way
and another, that the third term bug
bear begins to be seriously regarded
by the people. They think there must
be something in it, or they would not
hear so much talk on the subject. The
consequence is that the Republican
Party is really being injured by it.
And this injury is all the more vexa-
tious because the Republican, Party has
never given the slightest. countenauce
to this project. 1t has been entertain
ed seriously at all, it has only been by
a little knot Of persons who have their
own ends to serve. The party is inno-
cent of any completely in the scheme.
This being the case, we no longer see
any reason why Republicans should lie
silent on the question. 1t they choose
to speak out, by all means let them do
it; and the first to speak should be
Gen. Dix, who is at present being
struck at over other peoples shoulders,
and who is described by the Democrats
as an active confederate in the third
term "plot." We see no reason why
Gen. Dix should allow himself to be
houaded down by false charge. His
defeat would be very great misfor-
tune to tile State, and all proper means
should be taken to avert that disaster.
If Gen. Dix feels as all sensible men
must do on this question, consideration
for the feelings of others" should not
induce him to keep silence, for it is
pretty certain that the "others" have
not much consideration for him.-TNew
York Times.