National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-04
FINANCIAL INTEGRITY AND THE THIRD
TERM

The Herald has not recovered from the
Third Term phobia. 1t says in its yester-
days issue:
"when our free and easy politicians applaud
speakers like Sam Carey, Of Ohio, in their dis
cussion of financial questions and their de-
nunciation Of all bondholders as coupon
clippers when they divide political conyen-
tions upon the question seriously presented as
to whether we shall or shall not pay our debts
and sustain our national credit, they invite a
danger that as yet has not been clearly COM
pretended. We mean the nomination of Gen.
Grant for Third Term" ..-
This idea is notoriginal with the Herald,
for it was first made public through the
agenOy If lying newspaper interviewer
VINO ascriD>5 10 ex-senator Carpenter the
opinion that 'tl4 circumstances not likely
70 ARISE, alluded to in the Presidents
letter to Gen. White, wee the now existing
conflict between rag money and honesty in
the treatment of the financial Question. We
can make no other deduction from its en-
dorsement Of it, however, than that In its
opinion no other leader of the Republican
party than President Grant, or of either
party for that matter, is able to rally about
him those classes Of voters who are deter
mined that the integrity of the currency and
the faith of the Government shall be kept
inyiolate. While we acknowledge this 10
be forcible deduction, and one entitled to
serious consideration, we do not think It Is
conclusive. 1t is true that President
Grants record in this particular is brilliantly
consistent; but it does not follow that he is
the only rnhlioL leader who would satisfy
the demands Of the public to which we
refer. But the Herald continues:
eve showed that the strongest man In the
Republican party to-day was the President
himself; that he was virtually master of its
organization. Some venerable leader like Mr..
Cameron, Of Pennsylvania, might venture to
criticise the wisdom of his running for the
third term, or some shrewd but timid states
man like Mr.. Blaine might say as much
to his friends over tea table. But
no leading Republican possessed of the
confidence of the party has ventured to
challenge the Presidents supremacy within
the organization. Now, this being the case,
If we allow an issue to grow into our politics
involving the national honor and the integrity
of our debt we compel all honest men to take
sides against that claim without regard to
party. We introduce question more vital In
its consequences to this nation than that of
slavery, because we never can be q nation of
higher rank than Turkey or Morocco unless we
put our national honor beyond psrley or dis
pute. Once we allow this question to take
shape, we have that imperative neces-
sty' to which Grant alluded in his letter,
when he said that It might be necessary for a
President to be chosen for q third term. Pres
ident Grant has made his record clear on this
question by his memorable veto of the in
fation bill. He, therefore, stands In q posi-
ton Of two-fold strength-frst, as the I'M
questioned leader Of the Republican party and
master Of its discipline and Its resources, and,
second, az the leader Of the anti-infatiou sen.
timent Of the country and the natural chief
Of all who believe In suppressing this move
ment against our credit. Now, II this ques-
ton arises, and II the honest men of the
country are made TO feel that they are threat ]
sned with the triumph of o party which will
rend American credit from its top to Its
foundation, what Is TO prevent the nomination
Of President Grant for third term and the
precipitation upon the country Of an issue Of
he most tremendous chsracteri This Is
where demsgogues, who talk about coupon
clippers are slowly driving the Republican
"a yfv and the country % d. .H..