New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-05
The Presidents Letter.

President Grant has taken the enemy by
surprise. After fOrtifying themselves be-
hind third term spectre of their own crea
tion, with newspaper ammunition enough
in store, as they supposed, to last at least
until the Republican party nominated their
presidential candidate. General Grant
moves upon their works, destroys their en-
trenchments and confscates their ammuni-
tiOn.
For year past the Democratic press has
been challenging the President to define his
position on the third term question. OF
course, no attention was paid to these gra-
tuitous attacks and misrepresentation as
they were promulgated simply for political
effect But when the subject was presented
in tangible form to the public by the Penn
sylvania Republican Convention, the Presi-
dent took this first opportunity offered to
say to the public that he is not an aspirant
for renewal of presidential favOrs, ard
"would not accept nomination if it were
offered, unless it should come under such
circumstances as to make it an imperative
duty"
This is an honest declaration, and will
convince every reasonable man in the
Union that President Grant is not cand!-
date for denomination.
But there is condition attached to the
declaration which can not fail to command
universal attention. No opponent of the
Republican policy of reconstruction need
fail to understand the circumstances"
under which a third term may be rendered
imperative" In General Grants accept
ance Of the first nomination for the Presi-
dency he expressed his earnest desire for
peace. To-day the prayer of every sincere
friend of the republic is for peace, unity
and harmony; not a mere covering over
of the embers and smouldering Goals
of sectional hatred, revenge and seces-
sion, but cordial and hearty recog-
milton of the new condition of ma
tional affairs and universal acceptance
of the olive branch. These are the as
pirations of the friends of the Union, and
every sincere patriot is to-day more ener-
getically, if possible, than ever before, la
boring hopefully for full realization of
these desirable results. If in the near fu-
ture, the communities North and South
should JOIN in hearty response and "amen'
to this patriotic prayer. and put the seal of
sincerity upon their words by acts and
efforts in the right direction, then the third
term spectre will vanish from sight, and
President Grant, at the end of his present
term of official duty, will quietly and gladly
retire to enjoy the peace OF private life. con-
scious that he carries with him the recollec-
tions of gratitied nation for past services,
faithfully and successfully performed.
And we believe this will be the issue. The
desire for entire harmony of political and
social sentiment throughout the Union Is
taking control of the hearts and affections
of the people, North and South. The com-
munities everywhere see and feel the folly
of political and social estrangement, and 1t
is reasonable to believe that the great
gathering at the entennial in 1876, from
all sections of the Union, will chronicle
a victory in the public sentiment of uni
versal good will over prejudice. which, in
its effects upon the future prosperity of the
Union, will be secondary in Importance
only to the occasion they assemble to com
But should the public expectation be dis
appointed, and the the ante belum spirit
continue to manifest itself in opposition to
the spirit and letter of the amendments to
the constitution; should thu live branch
be rejected and the reconstruction of the
late Confederate States be opposed in the
future, as in the past, by intimidation or by
otherwise depriving any portion of our
citizens of their constitutional rights and
liberties; in short, should continuation of
military discipline and supervision be re-
]uired, and the people believed that these
circumstances" called for person of mill
,ary experience at the head of the govern
nent, it is possible that third term would
% considered a necessity, and President
irant might then, in response to the popu-
ar voice, become his own successor. The
popular will, however. is for peace and q
citation in Office. and nothing but q con-
inuation of sectional folly can render q
bird term ''imperarive" or even prof table
Washington Chronicle.