The Iola register., 1875-06-05
GRANT on the THIRD TERN.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,


EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON May %, 1875.
DEAR SIR A short time subsequent
TO the Presidential election Of 1872 the
press, a portion of it hostile to the Re-
publican party, and particularly 80 TO
the administration, started the cry OF
"Casarism," and third term" calling
on me to define my position on the latter
subject. / believe it to be beneath the
dignity OF the. Office which have been
twice called upon to fill, to answer such
q question before the subject should be
presented by competent authority to
make q nomination, or by body of such
dignity and authority as not to make the
reply a fair subject Of ridicule. In fac,
have been surprised that 50 many SEN
sible persons in the Republican party
should permit their enemy to force upon
them and their party an issue which can
not add strength to the party, no matter
how met. But body of the dignity and
party authority of convention to make
nominations for the State officers of the
second State in the Union have consid.
cred this question, deem it not improp
er that should now speak.
In the first place l never sought this
Office for second or even q first nomi.
nation. To the first l was called from 9
lite position, one created by Congress
especially for me, for supposed services
rendered 70 the Republic. The position
vacated liked. 1t would have been
most agreeable to me to have retained i,
till such time Is Congress might have
consented to my retirement with the
rank and q portion of the emoluments
which I SO much needed, to home
where the balance of my days might be
spent in peace and the enjoyment of do
mestic quiet, retired from the cares which
have oppressed me so constantly now fol
fourteen years. But was made to be
lieve that the public good called me to
make the sacrifice.
Without seeking the Office for the sec.
ond term, the nomination was rendered
to me by an unanimous vote of the dele
gates of all the States and Territories Sc
lected by the Republicans of each to
represent their whole number for the
purpose of making their nomination.
l cannot say that I was not pleased al
this, and the overwhelming endorsement
which their action received at the cleo
tion following. But it must be remem'
bered thai all the sacrifices except that
of comfort had been made in accepting
the first term. That too much of fire
of personal abuse and slander has been
kept up, for four years, Notwithstanding
the conscientious performance of my du.
ties to the best of my Understandings
though l admit, in the light ofsubsequent
events many times subject to fair criti-
cism-that an endorsement from the pe0-
pie, who alone govern republics, was q
qualification that it is only human to
have appreciated and enjoyed.
Now for the third term, / do not want
it any more than 1 did the first. ! would
not write or utter word to change the
will of the people in expressing or having
their choice. The question of the num-
Der of terms allowed to any one e:ecut-
i've, can only come up fairly in the shape
of proposition to amend the constitu-
ton; a shape in which all political par
ties can participate, fixing the length
and the number of terms for which any
one person shall be eligible for the Office
of President. Until such an amendment
is adopted, the people cannot be restric.
ted in their choice by resolution, further
than they are now restricted as to age,
nationality, etc. 1t may happen that
in the future history of the county that
to change the executive because he has
been eight wears in Offie will prove un-