National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-24
THIRD-TERM TALK.

The satanic press gives out an occasional
note or two still, on the subject of the
third term. If any weak kneed Republi-
cans, trembling at these sounds, would
fain see our President thrust his head out
of White House window to silence these
brawlers by assurances that he does not
want what has never been offered him, let
them still the beating of their timid hearts
with few thoughts we here suggest. The
time has never been, and we trust it may
never come, when a President can, by
public consent, handy words with his enc
mics on the subject of his wishes or pros
poets for continued service in that office.
The present Executive was actually pressed
into the office in 1868. Painic-stricken Re-
publicans, who now fear his enemies, were
then most vociferous in declaring him to be
the only hope of loyal men. In 1872 all
the intrigues and conspiracies were against
him, and his enemies, seeing that, without
effort on his part, he would be renominated,
left the party and fraternized with the
Democracy. Quietly and faithfully, dur
ing all these years, he has pursued the even
tenor of his way, and no cabals have been
formed by or around him for purposes of
party control. His warmest partisans have
often complained that he ignored the polit-
ical usages by which the Democratic party
so long held its strength. Above all
other things, it was early seen
that he would not coax liars
not to lie about him-that he would stand
four square to all the winds that blew. The
evil spirits who do all the noisy department
in several New York papers commenced,
soon after his second Inauguration, to an
nounce him as a candidate for third term.
Not that any one of them believed q word
they said, but then it would be good cry,
and one of which the President could not
properly take any notice. That Thersites
of newspaperdom, the New York Herald,
began the third-term cry, and the coarse
mind of its proprietor, and the coarser mind
of the editor of the Caesar column, doubt
less thought the President would go over
to New York, mount the stairs of the Her
aid building, and beg leave to assure the
pair of them that he would never allow any
American citizen to favor his reelection.
Fancy President assuming that he must
thrust the Office away from him in order to
get rid of it. Imagine him proclaimiAg
that he is so odious to the people that he is
afraid they will make him President third
term unless he debases himself by saying
that he is unfit for it. Think of his speak
ing a word on such a subject at all, and
then imagine the response. We will give
our readers a specimen of the HerGLd's
double loaded leader on the next day. 1t
would be headed, Cesar thrusts away the
crown" or Don't he wish he may get it?''
and would run in this wise: ULYSSES l.,
fearing he might be overlooked in the
looming Presidential race, has put
"out a feeble remonstrance against
"being drafted in for another four years.
"He does not want third term. Oh,
"no He says So He tried for time to
"let US do all the talking on this theme,
"but he found his fortunes waning, and
"now announces himself as a candidate in
"a letter of declination. A declina-
"tion is the usual form of announcing
zones candidacy. He has no fears of
"being misunderstood. But is not this an
"impudent assumption of Grant's2 Who
wants him? Who asked him to be can
"didate7 He thrusts himself forward,
"and saying nay, consents. The people
twill have business with this same modest
gentlemen"
The Tribune would call him ''the monu-
mental liar of the age" and Dana's Sun,
"Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart, little dogs
and all, would yelp in chorus" Let US
thank Heavenwe have not a Cabling Presi-
dent, swinging around the circle and assur-
ing the people at each railway station that
he does not wish reelection.