The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-08

The keynote of the discussion attending
the letter Of the President in reference 10 the
proposition to nominate him for third term
is involved in the idea that the Office Of the
Presidency is greater than the people. One
difficulty with President Grants letter is that
he SO regards it. This applies in large
degree to the political leaders Of both
parties. 1t has been the tendency of modern
political discussion-at least since the close of
the war-to regard the President as in some
respects the father of the people. We address
the incumbent of the White House very much
as Spotted Tail and Red Cloud and the Indian
chiefs do when they come to beg for blankets
and corn and rifles. He is our Great
Father" This arises partly from the central
ization that has crept into our politics as q
necessary consequence of the war. 1t arises
also from that sentiment Of adulation
with which time servers and Office holders
and politicians generally surround the
Chief Magistrate of the country as
the dispenser Of patronage. The truth is
that in no republican government, especially
in America, was it ever intended to make the
President anything more than the chief
ministerial officer Of the people, and not in
any sense their ruler.
The whole danger of Cmsarism in this
country does not arise from any attribute In
the character Of General Grant or any special
incident of his administration, but from the
adoption of this political heresy, that the
Office is greater than the people Unless we
can eliminate this from our politics we shall
drift steadily on to Imperialism. 1t will only
be a question Of time, generation or two
before we arc directly confronted with it,
Imperialism win grow from this root as surely
as the oak tree from the acorn. In an adj
ministration based upon TINS heresy the ten
dcncy is to regard the patronage of the
people as a military force to drill it, to WELD
it for party purposes. Place any man at
the head Of this vast power, aud teach him
that he is the possessor Of an authority above
and apart from the people, and it is not in
human nature that he should not WELD it for
his ambition or his revenge or his pleasure,
even as Napoleon and Cesar Therefore the
danger Of Cesarism is not personal DANGER
but fruitage of the war; President Grant
in his letter shows that he has thoroughly en-
braced this hercsy.
We have yet to learn Of any distinguished
republican leader who has taken cour-
ageous ground on the third term. Mr..
Sumner tired TO do 50, and many dem
ocratc statesmen during the urgencies Of
the canvass last year Endorsed him. Mr..
Summers efforts died out and when
tho democratic leaders succeeded in defeating
tho republican party upon the issue Of
Coesarism they ignored the subject as soon
as they came into Congress- We do not
end this controversy, therefore, by simply dis
counting General Grants prospects for re-
nomination. That is simply TO chop off a
limb or hew o few branches from the tree
The root and trunk remain, with all their life
giving juices. We shall have the strife over
again in the next generation. What we want,
therefore, is that this should be distinct and
emphatic issue in our next election-that we
should have en- amendment imposing one term
and no reelection. What we desire is not q
President who is necessary to the people, but
people who are strong enough to govern
themselves in spite Of the President.