The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-10
VIII the President Answer Congress

land question.
VIII tho President Answer Congress |:
Congress understands its business too well
to waste valuable time in proclaiming alb
stractions and platitudes in the form of
resolutions Its worst folly has never taken
tuous is to be happy" Resolved, twice two
are four" Resolved, that economy is wealth "
Yet the House might just as well have passed
any of these resolutions as have adopted the
anti-third-term resolution of December Is,
if it simply intended the latter to be the
utterance of an abstract opinion upon re-
publican government. The House declared
then, by the decisive vote of 232 yeas
to IS nays, that 'the precedent es-
tablished by Washington and other
Presidents of the United States in retiring
from the Presidential Office after their
second terms has become by universal con
currence part of our republican system of
government, and that any departure from
this time-honored custom would be unwise,
unpatriotic, and fraught with peril to our
free institutions" Is this merely a purpose
less truism3 If it is no more the House
might as well have been silent and spared
the country the humiliation of seeing two
hundred and thirty-two Jack Bunsbys in
meaningless council.
But Congress had definite purpose, and
the resolution has a practical application.
The danger to our republican system of gov
eminent is immediate, not remote Grant is
accused of intending to make this unwise
unpatriotic and perilous departure from the
time-honored custom which requires Pres
ident to retire at the end of his second term.
The resolution is meant for him personally,
and that gives it its only value, Re-
publicans as well as democrats voted
for it, and it cannot be regarded as parti-
san measure. There has been no legislation
this session more important, because it is q
plain declaration on the part of Congress
that it believes Grant wantsa third term, and
that he imperils the Republic in seeking it.
For over two years Grant has rested in
silence under the accusation that he was
planning to remain in Office He has refused
to answer his party leaders, his party con-
ventions and the press generally. His friends
have defended this gloomy silence on the
ground that 1t would compromise his
official dignity to answer unauthorized
questioners. This excuse is not valid now
Congress is the immediate representative OF
the people, and in passing this resolution
it speaks with the authority of the nation.
The resolution is nothing less than de-
mand that the Executive shall declare his
intentions, and it is demand that cannot
be evaded- We do not see how Grant can
refuse to meet this issue without compro-
missing that very dignity of which his friends
talk so much by confessing that he is afraid
to be candid. Nor can we understand how
Congress can recede from the position it has
assumed, or rest contented with the silence
of the President upon matter which it
officially declares is "a peril to our free in
stitutions" 1t cannot compel the Presi-
dent to speak, it is true. but it can make
the people understand that he has been
asked to speak by their direct representa-
tives, and won't