The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-12-16
The Democrats and the Third Term.

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The Democrats and The Third Term.
| The New York Times of the 4th, ha. the
following expressions in reference to the Third
Term, = in an article on president Making
The extract we give is also republished in the
Baltimore american. Both of these able Repub-
lican journals have been very decided in their
opinions against the third term, the Times go
ing so far at one time as to say that it would
rot support Gen. Grant or any one else for
President the third fern.
| 1t will be seen from the paragraphs we pub
lish, that there are greater calamlles, in the
estimation of these staunch papers. than dc
parture from what is called the 'sunwritten
/ law" in reference 70 the Presidency. When
we see the complexion of the present Con-
| gress weigh the antecedents OF y majority OF
| the members, carefully consider the attitude
which large portion of the Democratic party
has boldly assumed in regard to the credit OF
the country and the reckless disregard OF all
the conservative influences that should govern
| in the policy of the government, we are driven
| to the conclusion that the people Of these
| United States will not hesitate to adopt any
means, within the limits Of the constitution, to
avert the fearful results that would follow the
advancement to power OF the revolutionary ell
ements that give life and tone to the Demo-
cratic organization. Even at this time, when
the tendency Of the Democratic policy is so plain
and nnmistakable, we do not feel disposed to
declare for third term for President Grant.
The necessities OF the country, when the time
for action in national convention comes, will
control and point out the wisest course for the
Republican party to pursue. Whatever that
may be, we will cordially support, whether
it be the nomination OF President Grant or
any other safe statesman who comprehends the
dangers that threaten, and the wants OF the
couatry. Questions paramount to the mere
claims OF men will enter into the deliberations
Of that body. They will embrace the preserya-
ton of the nation, the rights-and interests of
all the people, and, IN short, the peraetuity of
our Republican institutions, upon the cardinal
ideas of the constitution, in spirit as we'll as
word. The candidate Of the Republican, party
in the centennial year of our national exs-
tence, must and will be representative naa-
rejecting the honor of the nation in its broal-
est sense, and giving assurance to the people
that this great Government must be lnaintain-
ed in carrying out the principles that consti-s
tute its essence and vitality.
Whether Gen. Grant will be the.nsans;pon
whom the confidence Of the people viii be re-
posed-around whose name the patriotism of
the country will rslly-remains for the events
Of the next six months to develop. To day, he
certainly stands first in the esteem OF the peo-
ple Whatever the politicians may think, as
the Times truly says, he is far more popular
with the "masses of the people than most
journals or politicians realize" and from pres
ent indications there is not likely to be any
abatement i'll the popular conviction, that he
will be the safest man with whom to entrust
the destinies OF the country for another Pres
idential term.
The Times of the 4th says:
The first result of all this democratic in
flation tenlencies) must be the very thing which
the Democrats profess to be most anxious to
avoid-nalnely, the revival Of third term ideas.
We do not say that General Grant himself will
enter into, or even indirectly encourage, any
schemes having this end in view; but they will
be much talked Of in one direction and another
and the mere obstinately the Democrats make
Roadway toward initiation Reputation the less
obnoxious to the people will the thlrt-tern idea
gradually become. The Democrats, in short,
seem bent upon playing into General Grants
hand. and, as they have to deal with man
who makes very few mistakes Outside OF his
appointments( and has personalities VIC firmly
be!ieye-nothing on earth to fear from Eek
posures' and investigations. and who,
moreover, is still far more popular with the
masses of the people than most journalists or
politicians realize--as this is the situation OF
affairs, the end of the session is likely to find
General Grant much stronger than the tsegin-
ming. A great financial danger will menace
the country, ard one road ont OF it will be
distinctly visible, and the people will be inclined
to take the road and save themselves all further
bother. That is very likely to be the tendency
in or about May and June, 1885, and ii it is,
we shall have the third term upon us in a way
that seemed very improbable year ago.
Our own views on this subject are Well un-
derstood, and have been put forward, we may
almost say, in season aud ont Of season, and
are not at all likely to undergo any change.
IT, then, VIC describe a state OF affairs which
we believe to exist or is likely to exist next
year it is not because we admire it or look
forward to it with any satisfaction. third
term would be departure from we'll estab-
lishetl precedents, almost amounting now to a
part OF that s.unwrltten law'' which must
necessarily enter largely into the practical
government OF any free country. 1t would be
lainentable event in the history of the
United States; and yet reputation, the loss
OF national credit, commercial ruin and dis
honor, would be worse. Why should the
Democrats be so blind and foolish as to force
the people to choose between these two alter
natives? Let them adopt the specie payment
policy and put q candidate forward on that ba-
sis, aud the third term project would be prac
tically killed, and some new man would un-
douhtedly be brought forward iii the Republic
can convention.
STATE DEBT.-The Auditor of Virginia re-.
ports that the total amount of the State debt
is $29.514, 426. This does not include the
sl5,000,00O and interest set apart as West Vir-
gina's share of the public debt, for which Vir-
ginia is bound and West Virginia never in
tends to nav The debt Of VIRGINIA in ronnd