The New York herald., 1875-12-16
The Third Term i'm the House OF
Representatives.

Representatives.
Bishop Haven's thunderbolt, after hover
ing in the air for some days, fell in an unex-
pected place yesterday and brought sudden
dismay and pain to a good many unsuspi-
cious souls. In the middle Of what prom
ised to be an uneventful day in the House of
Representatives Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois,
new member, introduced an anti-third term
resolution-a resolution worded in the
main very much as the President
might word q declaration of his own
declining third term if he wished to put
an end definitely to oil suspicion that he
desired reelection. If the House had
suddenly suffered a severe electric shock the
effect could not have been more startling
The democrats, of course, saw the joke at
once some of the republicans scarcely see 1t
yet. The confusion and dismay on the
republican side made comical sight. The
immediate-but OF course futile-motion to
adjourn, the consultation between members,
the hasty moving back and forth, be-
trayed their bewilderment. After o brief
struggle tho previous question" was
ordered, and on the main ques-
tion the yeas and nays were called amid
the deepest interest, but with laughter un-
concealed on the democratic side. When
Mr. Blaine's name was called there was no
answer, and the democrats could not conceal
their delight at what they called dodging
Some other members lodged and some were
absent. Only two hundred and fifty voted
out of total of two hundred and ninety-two,
and only eighteen of the whole House had
the hardihood to vote against the resolution.
OF these eighteen six are colored men, four
are Southern republicans and eight are
Northern men. One of these (McDougaD is
New Yorker, one (Plaisted) is from the
Bangor district of Maine, two (Hubbell and
Bradley are from Michigan, one (Dennison)
from Vermont Pratt is from Iowa, Page is
from California and Whiting from Illinois.
Mr.. Blaine is understood to say that he
declined to vote because, considering that he
is prominently spoken Of as a Presidential
candidate, it would have been indecent for him
to vote against the pretensions OF the present
incumbent. The plea is ingenious, but, as
a democratic wit remarked, it is magnificent
tribute to General Grants insincerity on the
third term question. The famous eighteen
who had the courage to declare for third term
are generally supposed to have patronage in
view, and some of them, at least, are known
to have been opposed to third term not
long ago.
The importance of the vote lies even less
in the sentiment it so almost unani-
mously declares than in the feel
ing the resolution aroused. 1t is be-
lieved in Washington that to stand well
at the White House q republican. must
favor third term for General Grant Pat
ronage is desirable thing for Congressman.
Many of them keep themselves in place by
its adroit use. If they should lose it they
would fall. Naturally they seek to please
the source of patronage at the White House.
Why do they, then, fight shy Of declaration
on the third term? Why, except for the
universal conviction that to oppose openly
this policy is to incur the hostility of the
White House The hubbub and annoyance
shown on the republican side yesterday were
really an insult to General Grant. 1t showed
that, in spite of his repeated declarations
in spite of his letter and his talk of his sue
cessor-no republican believes him. 1t was
not precisely magnificent but humiliat-
ing tribute to the Presidents insin-
cerity on this question He was very nervous
about few hasty words spoken by General
Henderson in ST. Louis. Can he stand
under the imputation cast upon him by his
own party and by the leader of his own party
in the House yesterday? Will he not take
pity on his party and put them out of misery
by declaring in unmistakable terms whether
he does or does not refuse another nomina-
ton?
The day has put the democrats in spirits
again. Even Mr.. Wood smiled to see the
enemy in confusion. There is talk, we hear,
Of similar resolution being brought up in
the Senate. Why not?