The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-01-26
WELL THE PRESIDENT ANSWER
CONGRESS2

Congress understands its business
TOO we'll to waste valuable time in
proclaiming distractions and plati-
tudes in the form of resolutions. It's
worst folly has never taken such q
shape as this: "Resolvcd, to be vir-
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 Deem
Der Is, if it simply intended the lat
Ger to be the utterance of an abstract
opinion upon Republican govern
ment. The House declared then, by
the decisive vote of 432 yeas to Is
nays, that "the precedent established
by Washington and other Presidents
of the United States in retiring from
the Presidential office after their sec
oud terms has become by universal
concurrence q part of our republican
system of government, and that any
departure from this time honorcd
custom, would be unwise, unpatriotic,
and fraught with peril to our free in
stitutions.' Is this merely q pur-
poscless truism? 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 Bousbys in mean
ingless council,
But Congress had q definite pur-
nose, and the resolution has practi-
cal application. The danger to our
republican system of government is
immediate, not remote Grant is &C
eused of intending to make this TN
wise, unpatriotic and perilous depar-
ture from the time honorcd custom
which requires President to retire
Mt the end Of his second term. The
resolution is meant for him personal
", and that gives it its only value,
Republicans as well as Democrats vo-
ted for it, and it cannot be regarded
as u partisan mcssurc. There has
been no legislation this session more
important, because it is a plain decla-
ration on the part of Congress that it
believes Grant wants q third term,
and that he imperils the republic in
seeking it.
For over two years Grant has rest
ed in silence under the accusation
that he was planning to remain in of
fec. He has refused to answer his
party leaders, his party conventions
and the press generally. His friends
bave defended this gloomy silence on
the ground that it would compromise
his official dignity to answer unau-
thorizcd questioners. This excuse
is not valid new. Congress is the
Immediate representative of the peo
pie. and in passing this resolution il
speaks with the authority of the ma
ton. The resolution is nothing less
than demand that the Executive
shall declare his intentions, and it i:
q demand that cannot be eyaded.-
We do not see how Grant can refUs
to meet this issue without compro
missing that very dignity of which
his friends talk so much by confes
sing that he is afraid to be cantid.-
Nor can we understand how Congress
can recede from the position it hs
assumed, or rest contented with til
silence of the President upon mat
ter which it officially declares is I"
peril to our free institutions" |
cannot compel the President to speal
it is true, but it can make the peopl
understand that he has been asked
to speak by their direct representa-
tives, and WON'T n. Y.sHerald.