The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-05-06
Third Term.

Whether Grant desires a reelection for q thiIu
term or not it is the prevailing belief that 10
.doas Some disbelieye il, or seem TO do So anu
boot the idea of any such intention or thou s"'
upon Grants part but great majority % -. ~
naonla ipcInding the bulk of the RePupii0"A
narty. think that he is bent upon tna' OUJ
frhis hos bod n novverful influence in acconnPlsn-
IN, Ronnb,ican defeats both last FAN anu 'nis
snrir1 If has united and and animateu lne up
,,onorts of the nary. and has disheartened hepuD-
Il, t. oonld not defend the scheme, nor en-
-; :. Cant NAV be a better man for Presi-
- -. .,s.,, .ny who will probably be nominated;
-. .t,o racedents set by several of the earlier
1,s.;aorts have come to be regarded as of as much
&C tba Constitution tself-in fact, thousands
.L;uL II is q proyision of the ConstitutiOn-and
.bo more thinking classes look with apprehension
,,non the efforts of an officer possessing the pow
er in patronage of the President, to extend his
term beyond the longest time established by pre-
cedent
The question has ben asked: If Grant does not
deserve a third term, why does he not say SO, and
set the matter at restf To which it is replied
that Grant has had opportunity to deny it; I;
that third term has never been offered him, and
it would not be In good taste decline what had
Nothing is easier than to get around this point
of etiquette; and if Grant does not desire third
term, or has any regard for the welfare of the
Republican party, he can settle it very speedily.
1t is a common and recognized practice among
politicians, when it is desired to get the opinions
and intentions of leading man before the pub
lie, to have some influential friend write him a
letter, asking his views, or inviting him to per
nit his name to be used for certain position.
This opens the way for him, in his reply, place
himself squarely on the record. This could be
done in Grants case.
But all the indications go to strengthen the
belief that Grant wants third term. While
many prominent men deny it, it will be found that
those who favor the third term scheme are the
ones who are high in the favor of the President,
and rice rerSa. Third term politicians get all the
fat appointments; third term Congressman con-
troll the official patronage, while those who are
outspoken against it, have little no influence.
Cnngressmen repudiated by the people, after hay-
ing voted for salary grabs or measures intended
to strengthen the third term venture, are sent
on foreign missions, appointed to Judgeships
or other lucrative position. The famous "Force
Bill" was simply measure by which Grant in
tended to carry States for himself, under the pre-
tence that lawlessness in those States required
the enforcement of the measure. Those Con-
gressmen who favored it, are the favorites of the
President. They get whatever they ask for; or,
if they have been repudiated by the people, he
is providing handsomely for them. So with 9th
er kindred measures. Observe, also, how he
clings to notorious coruptionists who pander to
his ambition or his greed, long after they have
faI nj oil b,-, l;o
After Boss Shepherd had been covicted of being
thief, by Congressional investigation, Grant
had the hardihood to send in his name for reap
pointment. The removal of Williams and Della
no from the Cabinet have long been demanded
by majority of the Republican party; but
Grant sticks to them, and even forces them to
remain, after they have rendered their resigna-
tions He cannot spare men who able and
willing to do dirty work that tends to his gain
or glory. On the other hand, Cabinet officers
who have tried in good faith to inaugurate re-
form and honesty, can get out of Office without
the least particle of trouble.
IfGrant is not nominated, the probability is that
the influence of the Administration will be used
to defeat the nominee, as Fillmore did in the case
of Scott. But the party could be defeated in
this way, without being destroyed In attempt
ing to elect Grant to third term, defeat would
be destruction
What will Kansas do in this great crisisi The
Republican party, in State Convention, emphat
ically and unanimously declared against third
term. Shall that expression be Overridden and
set asidef 1t will most assuredly be, if the peo-
pie are not more vigilant and active than they
have ever been before. For the next year, the
army of Postmasters, Mail Agents, Marshals, Col
lectors congressman, United States Senators
and all their dependents, with all who can bt
controlled by the promise of patronage, will b'
laying the wires to send third term delegation
from Kansas. Judging of the future by the past
they will succeed. They are paid to do such work
while the people are not. If the voters should
determine to take the matter into their Owl
hands, they could place the weight of Kansas in
the scale to avert the defeat of the Republican
party.