The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-12
Tho Republican Party and tho Third
Term.

We took occasion some time since to show
that the real danger of the third term. as an
issue in American politics, came from the
apathy of republicans themselves in under
estimating the importance of the question,
and from tho fact that the division OF party
interests is so great that General Grant him
self is evon now stronger in the estimation OF
his own party than any of the gentlemen
who have been mentioned in connection with
the republican nomination for the Presidency
There are two reasons for this The first
is that the republican party has been sub
mitted to process Of elimination the result
OF which has been to throw out of it the men
who would naturally and under ordinary cir
cumstances be candidates for the Presidency.
Power has enervated this organization.
When we come 10 look over the field we are
struck with the paucity of the material from
which to select an available candidate for the
Presidency. If we take military renown, and
this has on nearly every occasion been
potent element in the calculations OF poll
ticians, who can exceed General Grant
The democrats have had wandering idea at
times Of nominating q military chieitain IN
order to answer this condition Of success, but
General Grants prominence as soldier Is
only matter Of history, and no politician
could seriously question it. In craftsmanship
VINO remans2 There are three or four repub-
licans whose names are in the mouths
Of their friends as proper Candidates for
the Presidency but compared with the
men who founded the party and whose
genius gave it strength and dignity they
are weak and commonplace. There is
scarcely republican leader, no matter
how strong, who really has q national in
fluence. Mr.. Morton is powerful in Indiana,
but he would not carry single Eastern
State upon his financial platform. General
Butler has o certain rude strength IN the
South based upon his achievements as COM
mander in New Orleans, but he would fall be-
fore the influence which would be fatal to
Morton. Mr.. Blaine would have some
strength in Pennsylvania and in New Eng
land, bat bis name will have no especial
strength in the West and South. Mr.. Evarts,
who seems to be the favorite Of Mr.. Halstead,
will hardly act with the republicans. Mr..
Conking is little more than local leader,
who controls the New York organization. Mr..
Washburne has probably more national ele-
ments Of strength than any Of the others, but
they are negative in many ways. He has
been absent from the country and made
fine record during the German war.
He established his fame in Congress as the
opponent of subsidies and land grants; but
while these elements would give him strength
with the people they would injure him with
men who heretofore have been powerful
enough 10 control conventions and who even
now are aiming to control the country. So
that in the matter Of personal strength alone
the republican party has become 50 debil-
itated and weakened by the exercise Of patron
age and the interference Of federal power
that General Grant IS TO-DAY Its strongest
conspicuous member.
In addition to this strength we have the
apathy on the part Of the republican leaders
which we cannot comprehend. Senator Sar-
gent OF California, the other day in an inter-
view with newspaper reporter, said that be
had no fear Of Grant running tor third term;
that the President was weary Of public station
and crlved rest. Il have had" says the
President to Senator Sargent, mo rest during
the war, none until the succeeding admins
tration, only labor and anxiety. have had
no rest during the past six years, have two
more years Of labor and shall be glad when
the end comes" When Mr.. Sargent
was asked. however, what he would do
in the event Of General Grants renom-
inaton he said:-'f l believed General
/ Grant could be elected aud the choice were
between him and democrat or republican
OF weak backbone and doubtful principles
/ would support Grant Personally l see no
danger or inconvenience in third or fourth
term, and / am satisfied that a strong re-
\ publican administration like his is necessary
to the peace Of the country, perhaps its
unity" Ex-Governor Denison, Of Ohio in
discussing the same subject with a correspond
ent Of Western journal, said that from
hat he had heard General Grant say he was
convinced that the President was evoked
abou. the third term matter" feeling that il
had been started 70 'annoy him, and had
determined to asay nothing about it." With
this temper on tho part Of the President
Governor Denison deprecated the passage
Of any resolution by the Republican Conyen-
ton Of Ohio On the third term lest It might
be 10 gratutous insult to the President.
The opinions expressed by these two gen.
tlemen contain in themselves al the danger
that We apprehend from the third term. On
the one hand we have Senator Sargent, Q
distinguished, capable and leading Senator,
virtually admitting that he would not regard
Grants denomination as q violation of tho
sacred traditions OF the constitution, but
would support him. On the other hand We
have Governor Denison, Of Ohio, formerly
Postmaster General under Lincoln, q leader
ia The rennbIican party when great men con