The Hawaiian gazette., 1875-06-30
The ThIrd Term Question Ended.

/ Inc A AuGSIIOh A1nOcO
WASHINGTON, May SOth.-The proper
time having arrived, an acknowledged
authority has spoken in regard to the
third term question. President Grant ha:
Just written the most important letter o.
his public career, saying that he is not 6
candidate for denomination. 1t viii be
read with interest and deeper concern by
the American people than any political
document ever written. The firm and
dignifed explanation of his silence regard.
ing this matter, will not surprise those
who understand the character of the man
who has Infatuated himself, and whose
experience has taught him to rely upon
his own methods, and whose greatest sue.
cesses have been won as the result of quiet
independence of thought and reserved ST.
lence. The letter is usually characteristic
and remarkable for the absence of clap
trap and the ordinary rhetorical subter-
fuges of politics. Plainly and bluntly he
gives an insight into the nature of his past
life, his love for the position of General in
the army, his regard for the viii of the
people, and his natural exultation that his
first four years as Chief Magistrate were
so acceptable to them that the people,
without invitation from him, sought an
opportunity to repeat the highest demon
stration of their confidence in his abilities.
Not word in the entire letter could be
erased and not word added without
marring the completeness and simplicity
of the whole.
PRESIDENT GRANTS LETTER.
The following important letter from
President Grant upon the third term ques-
ton, was made public to-day:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D.
c., May 90, 1s75.-Dear Sir: A short
time subsequent to the Presidential cleo
ton of 1872, the press-a portion of it
hostile to the Republican party, and par
ticularly to the Northumberland
the cry of Cesarism and the third term,
calling Justify upon me to define my posi-
ton on the latter subject. believed it
to be beneath the dignity of the office
which l have been twice called upon to fill
to answer such question, before the sub
ject should be presented by competent
authority to make nomination, or by
body of such dignity and authority as not
to make reply a fair subject of ridicu-
lous treatment. have been surprised
that so many persons in the Republican
party should permit their enemy to force
upon them, or their party, an issue which
cannot add strength to the party, no mat
ter how met. But body of the dignity,
and particularly of a Convention, to make
nominations for State officers of the second
State, having considered this question,
deem it not improper that l should now
speak. In the first place l never sought
the Office for second nor even for first
To the first term l was
called from a position, one created by
Congress expressly for me, for supposed
services rendered to the Republic. The
position vacated | liked, and it would
have been agreeable to me to have re-
tanned it till such time as Congress might
have consented to my retirement with a
rank, and the adoption of emoluments
which / SO much needed, to home where
the balance of my days might be spent in
peace and in the enjoyment of domestic
quiet, retired from cares which were sus-
tanned so constantly now for fourteen
years; but / was made to yield to the
public good, which called to me to make
the sacrifice. Without seeking the office
for a second term, the nomination was
rendered to me by the unanimous vote of
all the Delegates of all the States and
Territories, selected by the Republicans
to represent them for the purpose of max
ing their nomination. l cannot say that l
was not pleased at this, and at the over
endorsement which their action
received at the following election, but it
must be remembered that all sacrifices
without that comfort had been made in
the first time Such fire of
personal abuse and SANDER had been kept
up for four years, Notwithstanding the
performance of my duties to
the best of my understanding, though |
admit in the light of subsequent events,
many times subject to fair criticism. Then
the Endorsement of the people, which alone
govern the public, was qualification that
it is only human to have appreciated and
enjoyed. Now, for the third time 1 do
not want any more than ] did the first. 1
would not write nor utter word to work
a change in the will of the people in ex-
pressing their choice. The question of
the number of years allowed to any one
Executive can only come up fairly in the
shape of proposition to amend the Con-
ititution, a shape in which all political
parties can participate, fixing the length
IF time or number of terms for which any