National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-05
Third Term.
111rQ 18TH.
From the Valley VirginIan. J

CFrom the Valley Virginian.l
The grim phantom of a military dictator
still haunts the imaginations of the Demo-
cratic writers and speakers. They have
argued themselves into the belief that General
Grant is anxious for an election to the Presi-
dency for third term, and because he will
not deny the existence of such desire, or
affirm it, they are lashing themselves into
fury of excitement over the uncertainty that
hovers over the question. If the President
had nothing to do but to study the gratifca-
ton of the whims of the 'Independent" press
and the puppet politicians who follow its lead
and echo its sayings, he might indulge in
few brief remarks on the subject, to rescue
them from their selfinfiicted torture. But
being engaged with more important matters,
he has permitted them to have their own
opinions and continue their speculations.
There has been nothing that the President
has said or done that can be properly con-
strued to favor the idea of a third Term. Re-
marks have fallen from him in relation to pub
lie questions and the condition of the country
that might lie fairly interpreted to mean that
he was not ambitious for the responsibilities
and cares of the Presidency for longer period
than that embraced in his present term.
Whether he wishes to stand before the Amer
lean people for a second Endorsement or not,
upon him by his political opponents, and the
ISLANDERS that have been flooded over the coun-
try through the "Independent" press, is not
a matter of any great moment. If he did, it
would, 1t is true, be little out OF the old way
of doing business, but as there is nothing in
the Constitution or the laws inhibiting 1t, and
it being a question purely for the people to de-
termine and deal with, there could not posi-
bly, be any great crime attached to it. If his
party chooses to nominate him, and the people
desire to elect him, where could be the harml
This is a government of the people and for the
people, and if, in the exercise of their rights,
they should see proper to call General Grant
to the Presidency third time, we cannot un-
derstand how that fact would change the char
acter of our institutions. Whatever would be
the effect, it would be the result of the action
of those who have the right to bring it about,
and who are the most interested.
One thing is certain. the interests of the coun-
try will require firm will and a steady nerve
at the helm of the Government, and mind
that is fully alive to the dangerous plottings of
the opponents of the Republican party. The
recent debates in the United States Senate, and
the views expressed by the uewly-elected Dem
ocratic Senators, are sufficient to arouse the
apprehensions of the country. The securemeIt
of good government, the preservation of peace,
and the protection of all the rights of citizen
ship, as now guaranteed, imperatively demand
the continuance of the Republican party in
power, and that this will be the case we have
not the shadow of doubt. Whether it will
be the desire of that party that General Grant
should lead them in the contest of 1876 is yet
TO he determined. Should he be nominated,
his election would be as certain as any future
event can be foretold.