Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-05
GRANTS THIRD TERM PRO
GRASI1IE NOT ABANDONED.

markable fidelity with which 1t has re.
fected his views, both before and after
he has given them publ, utterance
contains a leading editorial entitled
What is Casarism 2" which is signif
cant from the circumstances that it was
published subsequent to a protracted
private interview between Gen. Grant
and the principal editor of the Repub
IicaH, held Wednesday afternoon. Il
is evident that the organs are expected
to take their cue from the President't
Pennsylvania letter, and that the third
term campaign was formally opened by
the President in that publication. The
following is the first paragraph of the
editorial in question:
Within the past few years the cry of
CBsarism has been raised in this coun-
try, when in a republic this clamor is
as bereft Of sense as the brain that
could have conceived such an idea. In
this country the people rule, and there
Is no measure of personal ambition, or
cunning, or ingenuity, that can devise
or contrlve an agency Of sufficient
power to clrcumvent the popular viii.
The anci5nts conceded that "the voice
Of the people is the voice of God, and
it is not possible for the designs Of
men to oveTtUrn the plans and pur-
poses Of Omnipotence. Hence, if the
people, the republican masses of the
United States, shall in their cool and
! deteTminate Judgment decide that Gen
Grant is the most acceptable and avail
able candidate for the next presidency,
no measure or prejudice, hate or big
Oted hostility car raise a third term
clamOr that viii intimidate or deter the
popular viii from pursuing its own
promptings to the end Of the canvass.
In such an event, we have no fear that
the public veal is to be in any degree
jeopardized.
The argument Is then advanced that
the only constitutional limitation set
by the fathers to the terms Of a Pres
ident was one Of age, that the reason
why q limit to. the numbered terms was
not set was because the founders Of the
Constitution trusted the intelligence,
patriotism and honesty Of the people.
For this reason it was determined IN
der the wisdom Of the statesmen of
that day that the term should be linn
tied to four years, but that no barrier
should be placed between a wise and
just President and any number Of terms
that the people might desire for him
within that period when age becomes a
defined disqualification for the trust.
The article concludes as follows:
What we say now on this question is
only IN consideration Of it abstractlv.
1t is n It whether Gen. Grant shall be.
come a candidate for another term.
That question Is with the people and III
the womb Of the future, to be solved in
accordance with the promptings Of the
popular Judgment when the proper
time shall arrive for its determination.
It may be that the Peep viii speak on
this question with a distinctness and
power not 20 be disIegarded. Then
may arise the circumstances so wisely
alluded to by the President IN his letter
on the third-term proposition, when
an imperative sense Of duty viii point
TO an acceptance Of the Presidency for
a third term. IF the people do not
want Gen. Grant for another term they
viii not have him, 10 matter what his
personal aspirations may be. But if
1t shall appear to be the popu.
lar Judgment that this denomination
and reelection viii best subserve the
public good, then he can decide the
question Of acceptance. Until then
he has only to await the action Of pub
lie sentiment and the expression Of the
popular will This he viii do with
marked complacency, believing IL the
justice Of the people, and IN the Wis
dom of that overruling Power which
shapes and presides over the destinies |
of Nations, and has borne this Repub- |
lie through all its trials IN safety. |
There Is no sound and legitimate argu-
ment that can be urged against the re-
election Of a wise and Just President |
for three or more terms. Experience, |
allied to a wise sense Of justice IN ad- |
public affairs, adds greatly |
to the usefulness Of the President OF a
which comprises more |
than forty millions Of people. This
experience, held IN such relation, is of |
value 10 the national welfare 4
and presents a strong reason for con-
tinuing IN place one who has shown
himself TO be honest and capable be-
yond question; while on the other
hand, when a President has proved /
himself wanting IN capacity and hon
esty, the people know it, and viii soon
determine his fate and limit his power
to the term IN which he has betrayed
his real character, and where public
respect and confidence cease to exist.
We trust that this third term bugabOO |
has spent itself, and Will no longer
haunt the Republican party. It's duty
is plain, and no false Issue should be 1
allowed to interp0se to defeat or divert |
its action in providing this Government |
with a Republican President for the
next four years at least. This is the
pivotal point upon which the future
Of the nation hangs, and |
must Tot be lost sight Of by the friends
Of good government and human rights. |