The New York herald., 1875-12-17

i from four TO six years is offered at time
when We would fain believe that there may
be a chance of its adoption. sim
liar amendment has been several
times proposed within the last fifty
years, but popular interest in the
subject has heretofore been too languid
to carry it through Congress, to say nothing
Of the necessity for its ratification by three
fourths of the States. But the deep public
interest excited by the third term agitation
makes it possible to secure now a change
which has so often been attempted in vain.
The public mind is at last alive to
| the great Importance of the subject,
and it would be a misfortune not to utilize
the anxiety and fears aroused by the third
term controversy for the removal Of future
| danger by an amendment of which our
wisest statesmen long ago pointed out the
necessity.
The action Of the House of Representa-
tives, day before yesterday. on Mr. Springers
resolution relating to the third term, is
chiefly valuable as proving the deep
hold this question has taken on
duced more lively sensation; and large
majority of the republicans, as well as all
the democrats, recorded their votes against
the third term. But the squirming of the
republicans, and their vain efforts to post
pone and dodge the question, prove that
they voted under constraint The repub-
licans would have shirked the question if
they could, but when forced to vote upon it
the power of public opinion and fear
of their constituents compelled
large majority of them to vote on the
right side. The singular scene in the House
on Wednesday proves that the republican
members recognize the force of an awakened
public sentiment on this subject powerful
enough to control their votes when they
found they could not evade the question.
We care nothing for the democratic triumph
and republican humiliation except as
an index of an aroused public sentiment.
The republicans struggled to avoid
vote, but when forced to s'face the
music" they voted against the third term to
escape the wrath of their constituents This
compulsory vote illustrates both the strength
and the weakness of the third term move
ment The spasmodic reluctance of the re-
publicans to meet the question attests the
influence of the White House, but the fact
that, when forced to show their colors, they
recorded their votes against the third
term, proves that the pressure Of public
opinion is an overmatch for Presidential
influence. When compelled to decide be-
tween President Grant and popular SEN
timent the republicans Of the House ranged
themselves on the side Of the people but
their struggle to avoid vote proves the
strength Of the third term movement in Off
cial quarters If the republicans of the
House had believed President Grant sincere
in his pretended remuneration of a third
term they would have been too glad to meet
the question and relieve their party from
the third term incubus. Their vain attempt to
put off the subject is a virtual admission that
the White House influence, as they under
stand it, is opposed to republican committals
against the third term. The republicans Of
the House preferred to leave the question
open, and thereby attested their belief that
there is no sincerity in President Grants
disavowals. If they thought him sincere
they would have been glad and eager to
meet the third term question and put it out
of politics. Their attempt to stave it off and
escape vote upon it was a virtual
admission that in their belief President
Grant has set his heart upon q third
term. But when they were forced to choose
La4 al fn he
respect for the popular voice they ranged
themselves on the side Of the people, con-
scious that the public sentiment of the coun-
try is opposed to third term. 1t is too evil
dent that popular sentiment and republican
official sentiment are in conflict on this ques-
ton. The republican attempt to dodge it
in the House must be regarded as a bad
omen, because it indicates sharp collision
between popular and official sentiment. While
it is satisfactory to know that the republican
members were constrained to vote against the
third term, in obedience to the views of their
constituents, it is, on the other hand,
ground of apprehension that they strove to
avoid q committal on the subject lest they
should fall under the displeasure of the
White House. 1t was their evident wish to
keep themselves free to support President
Grants third term aspirations, and such
wish betrays q lurking support Of the
third term. In this state of senti-
ment nothing could be more timely
or opportune than Mr.. Randall's pro-
posed amendment to the constitution.
When it comes to a vote in the House it will
compel every member to declare his views
on question Of the first magnitude. The
vote on Mr.. Springers anti-third term reso-
luton virtually commits the House on the
main question, and the republicans will
e'turn their backs upon themselves" if they
vote against Mr.. Randalrs amendment
But we cannot disguise our fears that so