National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-01
THE THIRD TERM AND THE NEW YORK
REPUBLICANS.

h61 UoL4OAnos
A number of reputable Republican jour-
mails in New York are just now engaged in
discussing the necessity and propriety Of
embracing an anti-Third Term resolution
in the platform to be adopted by their party
convention which is to be held next month.
1t Is not difficult to trace the origin of this
discussion to q source which is acknowl-
edged to be inimical to President Grant
and his Administration. 1t is therefore
somewhat strange that Republican jour
mails who do not profess to be inimical to
him personally, but are simply opposed to
a Third Term on principle, or as a matter
of policy, should have been induced to take
part In it. But the main trouble is that
some ofthem have gradually, and, possibly,
unwittingIy, been led step by step into
condition of excitement which seemingly
blinds them to all the facts in the case.
For example, the Utica Herald says:
ave say what we have already said, that
the Republican State Convention cannot refuse
to declare, las in every other State where conven-
tons have met, unalterable hostility to third
term for anv President. The convention can
not afford to fly in the face of the counsel of
such Republican journals as the Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle, Hdrper'S Weekly, the
Ogdensburg Journal, the Albany Express and
the Binghamton Republican. We have had
public sentiment in order to buy favor with
the kitchen cabinet at Washington"
Here we have what amounts to a posi-
tive declaration that some indefinite thing,
known as the Kitchen Cabinet at Wash
ington," has favors to bestow upon some
other indefinite thing or things, known as
'fselfstyled leaders, when they ''trample
upon public sentiment But it is posi-
tive declaration of bosh,-a wild, thought
less utterance of writer who either was
intent upon deceiving his readers, or did
not know that in making what appeared to
him to be rhetorical figure he was sacri-
fcing the truth. There is, in fact, so much
that is indefinite about it that we pass it by
as presenting not even a single point tangi-
BILE enough to be worthy Of denial But
the Rochester Democrat, q Republican
journal of acknowledged intelligence and
prominence, quotes this declaration and
adds to it the following comments:
"To the delegates to the Republican state
convention, we wish to make one suggestion,
which cannot fail to appeal to their good
sense. An anti-third-term resolution can do
TO harm, in any event. We are told that the
President declared against a third-term in his
memorable letter. Then certainly there can
be no improperly in the Republicans of the
state of New York ranging themselves with
the President We are told that nobody is in favor
of a third term. Then nobody can be offended
fhr1o W
told that only those whose fears have got the
better of their judgment desire such declar-
alton. Very well; yield to their fears mas
much as no DETECTION from principle is thereby
involved. No harm can come in any event
from the passage of an anti-third-term resolu-
ton"
The ono harm" idea which prevails
throughout this paragraph and is the 1nspi-
ration of the argument it contains, is SIM
ply trucking acknowledgement that the
demands of the enemies of the party and
the Administration may be conceded to
without injury to the reputation or pros
poets of either. But the Democrat pro-
ceeds to justify this by declaring its belief
that there is no real danger of Third
Term. This belief no doubt proceeds from
the existence, which we freely scknowl-
edge, of wide spread sentiment that if
President Grant is not personally retained
in Office his policy Of administration must
be continued by his successor as the only
means by which the integrity of the ma
tons pledges, both as regards the finances
and the achievements Of the war, can be
maintained. The New York Commercial
Advertiser, inspired by the influence of
this sentiment, has declared that the con-
tingency may arise which will compel the
Presidents denomination. To our mind
this declaration Is an acknowledgment
that he is the only man in the coun-
try, or in the party, who can be
depended upon to preserve the con.
sistency of the party. This Is the
logical deduction from it; but we deny the
premises on which it is based. The Penn
sylvania, and Ohio resolutions recognize
his policy as worthy Of earnest approval,
and while opposing his denomination, in
effect, declare that the country requires the
continuance Of that policy but they do not
intimate or give any opportunity for the in
ference that no man worthy to be his
successor can be found.
This we believe to be the true explana-
ton of the situation North and South, and
if those New York journals who have
will take the trouble to analyze the evident
currents of political feeling they will find
that we are right. In the South, for ex-
ample, where the Entertainments of the
States Rights and White Mems, or South
ern Democratic party, have admonished
the blacks and their Republican sympa-
thizers that the future, in the event of Dem
ocratic success, promises political, CONNER
cial and social humiliation to them, there
is desperate demand for his reelection.
In other words, the Southern Republicans
as body believe that unless some such
man as President Grant is kept in Office to
check the tide of Gushing Cancellation.
based upon false appreciation of the de-
signs of the Southern Democracy, they
will be overwhelmed with condition of
affairs, the horrible character of which
they cannot impress upon the minds of
their Northern friends. At the same time,
in the North, and wherever the Presidents
consistent and persistent adherence to his
determination that the financial pledges of
the government shall be kept inviolate,
finds admirers, there is natural and con
sentative disinclination to venture upon
change of administration. The true friends
of the Government those who have the
honor Of the nation at heart, are cautious
about placing unlimited confidence in the
management Of any strange and untried Ex-
ecutive.
This is all there is, in fact, to sustain the
belief that Third Term project is seriously
contemplated but as we have before init
mated the Opposition press has made use
of it to excite the apprehensions of the