Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-02
naiIu Nennebrf sournal
AUGU SIT A.
WEDNESDAY MoRNIN q. June Q. 1878.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ANDlDA ~
FH@ F0R REN0AINA710N.

EOR REAOHIl AllOl-
The letter of President Grant to The
President of the late Pennsylvania con-
yention, npon the third term question:
will be accepted as an explicit declaration
that he will not be a candidate for renom-
nation. He has not spoken upon the sub
iect before, because il seemed to nun tha'
he could not properly do so while the agi-
tation of il was confined to irresponsible
and unfriendy sources; but when a body
of the importance OF the Pennsylvania Re-
publican State convention took action upon
the matter he thought it was time for him
to speak.
The letter of the President is straight
forward. plain. candid. He speaks MS
mind freely, not only in relation to Il lres-
idential third term. but in regard to his
motives and wishes in the past concerning
the Presidency. and his conclusion and de-
sire as to the future. That he should eX-
press some feeling at The manner in which
the third term question has been pressed
by the opposition is justihablc in consld-
Grafton of the circumstances. That he
never sought first or second nomination
for President, preferring to hold the mir
tary office which had been given him as
a reward for his services TO the country,
is a statement which none but his enemies
will contradict. To be branded, there
fore, by the opposition as Cesar, man
ambitious to seize and hold the Presidency
an unlimited period regardless of the well
fare of the country. was an abuse at which
he might we'll feel indignant.
What the President says in relation to
there being no constitutional provision
against third term is correct. yet there
is no doubt that custom has raised bar
rier against third term which is as strong
as any constitutional provision, and which
no wise statesman will care to disregard.
Though not written upon parchment, it Is
written upon the hearts OF the people, as
has been amply shown in all our history
whence it will never be erased while the
republic stands. This principle President
Grant has no intention of violating. In
his letter he says: II am not, nor have
sever been, a candidate for denomination.
II would not accept nomination II 1t
'.were rendered unless it should come I'M
..der such circumstances as to make it an
imperative uty-circumstances not like
.ly to arise" This is conclusive. With
the sentiment which exists among the
people that no President should have
third term, there is no possibility that
such an event will occur in President
Grants time, or ever until the love OF tree
government has been extinguished in this
country. No matter how much they may
respect and honor President. the Amer
lean people have fixed the limit of the Of
fee at two terms, and beyond that they
will not consent that any incumbent shall
pass. This bound the President has no de
sire to overstep. His letter is the honest ex-
preston OF his heart 1t is the frank and
IcaIleSS dNONdi VI tHc soiuici dLN u ut
patriot.
We notice, however, that the opposi-
ton press have commenced misrepresen-
ting the President, and denouncing his
letter as evasive and insincere. They do
not intend to allow the third term question
to die as long as they can by any means,
fair or foul. make party capital of it for
the democrats.
1t would seem that the avowal ofPres-
ident Grant that he is not candidate
ought to be sufficient to satisfy even the
opposition. Against his declaration they
can make but little progress, for rational
men of all parties will agree that his letter
fairly and decidedly wilhdraws his name
from the candidacy for the republican
nomination. President Grant has done
precisely what the democrats did not wish
him to do. The third term question is
practically dead. All attempts to give il
the appearance of life might as well be
abandoned