New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-10

who does not give Ills WnOic tline W L. '''' wa
whether or not he is voting for the right men.
The same argument will apply to State
affairs, even in ordinary times. 1t applies
now with ten-fold force. There can be no ques-
ton of the necessity that power should DE
lodged in some safe and responsible hands
for touching the canal system at tho vital
points. The measure row proposed Is start
ling, but it will rally u great proportion OF Tue
best men in the Legislature to its support.
--~----
REVIVAL OF THIRD-TERM DISCUSSION.
I'm the opinion of several Administration
newspapers, notable among which is THE Ind
annapolis journal, published at the home OF
Senator Morton and believed to reflect that gen
tlemans views, the Republicans in Connecticut
were Handicapped by the thrd-term question"
The journal claims to have long since, and
more than once, pointed out the injury that
would inevitably ensue to the Republican
party unless it cleared itself OF this mcu-
bus and events, it thinks, are proving that
its warning was prophecy. 1t believes
an overwhelming majority of the Republican
voters who are out of Office are unaterably
opposed to the denomination OF Gen. Grant tof
q third term This, "partly because they re-
"gard the third-term principle rs pernicloiS,
"and partly because they wish to see some
"reforms introduced into the National Govern
"ment which they do not believe can be in-
"troduced under the administration OF ten.
"Clantr With profound respect for the mo-
tives, character, and services OF Gen. Grant,
the opinion is frankly expressed that his course
regarding the third term question has caused, and
so long as adhered to will continue to cause,
great injury to the party. This was the trouble
with the Republicans in Connecticut, according
to The Journal and it is quite confident that
the result would have been different had they
declared boldly and positively against
third term, and nominated for Governor
popular man Of pronounced opposition thereto.
On the other hand the Administration organs
in Connecticut, though reluctantly recogniz-
ing the thrd-term question as an ele-
ment in the canvass, which may have
had some shadowy and almost imper-
ceptiblc influence upon the result, affect to
believe that it is all disgusting nonsense
and shallow trick of the Opposition. This
was Gen. Hawley's treatment OF the subject
,1pon the stump. He secuted the idea that
President Grant entertained any thought or
notion of Il third term, and once or twice went
so far as to say that even if he did, there was no
danger of his being nominated, as there were
too many other influential and prominent men
in the party who were aspirants to the Presi-
dency to permit him to take a third nomination
without making vigorous and effective fight
against it. Moreover, he confessed that there
was no possibility of his reelection and this
fact he thought was so obvious, and so uni
versally believed, that the good sense OF the
party would forbid its doing anything so sui
cidal Very late in the canvass, too, Mr..
Greene, the candidate for Governor, who had
been nominated to emphasize the devotion of
the party in the State to the personal fortunes
of the President, said in n speech that he be-
lieved it to be part of the lmwlitten law OF
the land that 10 President should hold office
more than two terms.
This was well enough in its way, but not
timely. 1t went with other speeches upon the
stump, in which members of Congress, who
may be supposed to know, or at least have
some reasonably accurate suspicion OF the
Presidents purposes, put the matter in dit
forcnt light. They said, and some of the most
faithful OF the organs repeated it, that the
third-term question had no business in the
CANVASS, and that the whole case was covered
by the fact that, whether he wanted a third
term or not, the election would be by the
people, who if they desired his reelection,
would vote for him, and if they did not, would
defeat him. So that after all, there was
nothing definite or satisfactory as to the posi-
ton of the party upon the subject, except the
tone of the resolutions of the convention. We
are not prepared to express an opinion as to
the degree Of importance which attached to
this Issue in the progress of the canvass, or
how it affected the result. That it was a
damage to the party, to some extent, seems
plain. 1t is not strange that the party suffer-
ing from the discussion Should be i'm
patient and angry at any allusion
to it. They will be wise if they
profit by the lesson; though it is possible their
wisdom may come to them too late. Next
year when they come to their nominating con-
vention, it being in tho Presidential year, there
will I've no objection, we presume, to an en-
phatic uttcrancc upon the subject. Certainly
the objection that it is out OF place and I'M
timely will not hold good then. But the dan
ger is that by that time they will have lost the
opportunity of rctrieval. 1t may be too late.