The New York herald., 1875-12-17

power is competent to defer the next Presi-
DENTAL election for two years, and two
additional years of the Presidency of Gen
eral Grant would be a moderate price to pay
for so important reform as the limitation
of the Presidential Office to a single term.
If the change can be made without paying
this price 80 much the better but we can
not doubt that President Grant has power
enough to defeat such an amendment, and
we think it wiser to gain his support by con-
cessions than to put so great a reform in
peril by provoking his opposition. Anamend-
ment forbidding the reelection of a President
would guarantee the success of our institu-
tons for centuries, and the country can
AFFORD to pay so great price as the exten-
sion of President Grants term for two years
for SO valuable change. If h s patronage
and influence are powerful enough to secure
his denomination by the republican party
they are powerful enough to prevent the rati-
ication Of a constitutional amendment
limiting the Presidential Office to one
term. But if the adoption or rejec-
ton of so important an amendment
depends upon him it is better to secure its
success by concessions than to risk the de-
feat of so vital a measure. Two additional
years of such an administration as President
Grants would be cheap price for security
during long and indefinite future.
The great importance of change for limit
ing the re-eligibility of our Presidents is
'attested by the highest authority. The
most admired statesmen of the last
generation were Andrew Jackson, on
the democratic side, and Henry Clay, on
the whig side, and these two great political
leaders were equally Jealous for such a
change in the constitution as is now in con-
temptation. General Jackson recommended
an amendment of the constitution limiting
the President to a term Of four or six years,
and Mr.. Clay, who was General Jackson's
most violent political opponent, zealously
advocated limitation to one term without
raising the question of it's extension
beyond the period Of four years.
The voices Of Jackson and Clay
fell upon inattentive ears :; the great reform
they recommended failed for want Of
popular support. But, at present, the third
term question has awakened popular apathy,
and the deep interest excited is favorable to
the amendment Jackson failed and Clay
failed, in spite of their strong convictions, be-
cause popular sentiment was not sufficiently
aroused but at present the third term con-
troversy has 50 agitated the public heart as to
justify hope that such an amendment can
be carried by skilful management. Its
friends must not undervalue the power Of
the opposition, and it would be better to
have their support than their hostility. 1t
would be wise and polite to buy off the OPP
position Of President Grants supporters by
extending his term Of Office for two years
rather than to have 50 important measure
defeated The pracuicability of this great
reform cannot be doubted if the people
indorse it. Nothing could be easier
ton from 1876 to 1873, if such be the popular
will An amendment Of the constitution
does not necessarily require more than three
or four months. A majority Of the State Leg
islatures meet in January, and it is in the
power Of the State Governors to assemble any
of them in extra session. There is nothing
which the country could better afford than
the extension of President Grants term for
four additional years if it could thereby
secure the support Of his friends for consti-
ton of any future President.