The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-06-11
The Third Term IUnOte.

In President Grants third term Ietter
he gives the following double apology for
his long silence on the question ARD Tor ms
utterance at this time
In fact. | have been surprised that so
many sensible persons in the Republican
party shoUld permit Hteir enemy to force hpo's
them and their pdltg an issue tchach cannot ddd
strength to the party, no matter hoU n,et. Bnt
a body of the dignity ard party authority OF
a convention to make nominations for tie
State officers of the second State in the
Union, having considered this question, L
deem it not improper that l should sneak.
Possibly the President don't read the
newspapers, aud possibly his memory is
treacherous. Irhe read the public journals
about a year ago and his memory of in
portant events relating specially to himself
is not utterly at fault, he must have had
either grateful or painful recOlections of a
Republican State Convention in South
Carolina, called to nominate a Governor
and other important State officers. that
passe q the following among other resoiu-
tious
ResoIred, That in the distinguished soldier
ard statesman now at the head of our ma
tonal government we recognize one who, IN
peace well as in war, possesses that hdeil-
iy of purpose and integrity of character so
necessary to insure tranquility al home, re-
spect abroad, and the rermanency of the
grand and glorious principles which haze
lcan party TO which we belong; and for
1ciich recson pledge oursclreS TO the support
of President Grant for third term, assured that
5y so doing are shall preSeTre that peace and
linitg- throughout tie tclole country SO necessary
to ats prosperity.
1t is barely possible that the President
regards the South Carolina Republican
Convention as the '<enemy" that forced the
third term issue upon the party bat when
it is remembered that the resolution we
have quoted was passed in pursuance of an
assurance to. an understanding with, Pres
ident Grant, made by Senator Patterson
before the meeting of the convention, tie
position of the President is at least illogi-
cal, to use the mildCst language. If lie
were an ordinary man, in the ordinary
walks of life. it is probable that he might
be accused of deliberate tiic<ery and mis-
! representation but as he is the President
of the United States, and insists that the
; ''enemy" is the author OF the third-tcrm
issue. a modest suggestion that he is some
what awkward and unfortunate in his
mistakes is perhaps the best way to ex-
! press it.
The only formal declaration of the third
/ term policy presented TO the country from
! any quarter WAS the deliverance Of the
( South Carolina Republican Convention
! some twelve months ago. This declaI alton
! was from his own friends, with his previous
} knowledge, au0 either positive or passive
approval. and it was made to secure his
special favor in the disposition of troops
! for election purposes in that State. Was
/ this not "a body of the dignity and party
/ authority to make him speak on the Sub
ject? or could he speak only in answer to
convention .'of .he second State i'll the
Union?' If lie had written then. when his
/ own friends by formal party platform in a
/ strong Republican State, declared that 1--WE
/ pledge ourselves to the support of Presi-
/ dent Grant for a third term" as Washing
! ton wrote eighty years ago and said Il
/ decline being considered among the nun
! Der of those out Of whom a choice is to be
/ made" is it probable that he could now
say that he is ''surpriscd' to see the enemy
/ force upon them and their party an issue
! which cannot add strength TO the party,
/ no ma tier how met?" Either President
Giant must have singulaIly defective
( memory, or he is particularly economical
/ in the use of truth, on this third term in
/ fatuation. IhGin. Times.