The New York herald., 1875-06-11
The President misunderstood.


on the theory on which an Irishman shot, so
as to hit if it was deer and miss if it was a
COW. They mean, we suppose, that the letter
is disingenuous; but we do not like to see
anybody accuse the President Of such thing
as trimming Nor do we see that his letter
can lie justly under that imputation. 1t
speaks directly enough. He does not believe
in a third term for everybody. He would not
have supported Mr.. Buchanan's or Mr.. john
sons or, perhaps, even Mr.. Lincoln's preten-
sions to third term. He thinks his own
case different which is not unnatural He
remarks that he sacrificed good deal in ac-
cepting the Presidency-a life Office and
good salary were what he gave up; and these
things appear to him more important per-
haps, than they might to persons more accus-
toned to public lite and used to making per-
sonal sacrifices. Mr.. Fish, for instance, has
given up good deal to serve the country in
the State Department.; Governor Tilden sur
rendered very profitable practice at the Bar
to become Governor of New York. at salary
which would appear to General Grant ridicu-
lousy low; Judge Pierrepont gives up large
practice to be Attorney General. But these
gentlemen look at such things from a differ
ent point of view. To the President the life
salary and the life Office are very important
And So if the people will give him an
other term of the Presidency, he does not
think they would do too much 1t would be
four times fifty thousand-that is TO say two
hundred thousand dollars in salary and
offs Nd 10
keep him agreeably busy. If the Presidents
Western critics will put themselves in his
place and will try to look at the matter from
his standpoint they will see that he could
hardly think differently.
That he does mean and expect third term
no one who has attentively watched the course
of his more recent appointments to Office can
have the least doubt; and this is kind of
evidence which would be-were there any
just or strong reason to doubt his intention
of the most pertinent kind. On the adjourn
ment of the last Congress he made number
of more or less important appointments, and
Of these all, so far as we now remember, were
men who had previously acknowledged them
selves more or less favorable to third term;
u
term for General Grant.
In the Southern States, whence he must ex-
pect the main body of delegates TO come, who,
in the National Convention, Will insist on his
denomination, almost the whole body of fed
eral ofice-holders are strong advocates of
third term; where they are not they are
prudently silent In Louisiana Marshal Pack
ard thinks Grant is good enough for him, and
Packard and Casey control the federal ap-
pointments in that State. In Alabama it
would be difficult to discover federal office
holder who is not devoted 10 General Grants
reelection, and Senator Spencer would make
short work with one if he did discover him.
In Arkansas Brooks, Snyder and the. other
federal officers, especially those most
recently appointed, are almost to man third
termers. In Mississippi ex-senator Pease,
Postmaster at yicksburg is the fugleman in
the same cause In Georgia, North Carolina
and Virginia the case is the same.
Nor is this all. Such recent federal appoint
ments in the South as that Of Wells, ex-Presi-
Board; Pease in Mississippi, Brooks in
Arkansas and others we could name, point
directly to the Presidents intention to be re-
elected, if, as he remarks, the necessities Of
the country should demand it. These men
have no possible political future in the States
where they live except as Grant men. No
other republican President would keep them
in Office moment longer than the time needed
to make out the commissions Of their success
sors. Under a democratic administration
they would, Of course, sink out OF sight as
quickly. They are third termers, therefore, in
self-defence; they could not afford to abandon
General Grant When man notorious for
his skill in selecting the agents who are to do
his will picks such men for Office it means
that be is in earnest.
1t will be seen, therefore, that the interpre-
tation commonly put upon the letter is con-
sistent with those acts of its author by which,
if the letter we're Of doubtful meaning, we
should naturally seek to discover his inten-
tions. II you are in doubt look at the men
be appoints to Office. II you do not know
what the President wants ask his dependents
and favortes what they want If they are
third termers that would seem to settle the
question.
But as we dislike TO see the President mis-
represented and misunderstood We viii add
that We thoroughly believe him when he sug-
gests that he is not in love with the Presidency.
lie likes good Office and large salary. lie
Is a thrifty rather than an ambitions man. He
is fonder Of money than Of authority, and he
has got accustomed to the privileges and
honors Of Office, and fears he would not be
comfortable without these. II he could be
made General of the Army, with a handsome
retiring pension besides his salary, we firmly
believe be would give up his Presidential
aspirations at once II Congress should offer
10 create for him 4 life Office with little
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