The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-21


and belieye that he has not. But that he
has frequently displayed weakness, that
he has many times and oft committed
blunders, that he has persisted, against
all advice and remonstrance, In placing
the control OF public affairs in most un-
worthy and incompetent hands, that he
has been derelict in holding peculators
Of the public treasure to prompt
and strict account, that he has
sometimes exhibited ignorance Of
the plainest principles OF public pol
icy and constitutional law in reference
to the affairs of the government, no man
can truthfully gainsay or deny. We
take no pleasure in saying these things
of Gen. Grants administration. We say
them, indeed, with some, degree Of self
modification. But they are things that
candor compels us to say. They are the
truth; and being true they declare that
Gen. Grant has no just claim to superior
fitness for the Presidency of the United
States. There are other men of his
party, quite as upright, more capable,
and not less worthy than himself of that
high office.
We maintain, moreover, that, as a
measure of public policy, third term
nomination would be most inexpedient
and unwise. For, such a precedent as
the third term nomination would afford,
can not fail to have most mischievous
tendency upon the future career of the
nation. The possession of the Chief
Executive power of the nation, even for
the brief term OF four years, is already
a glittering prize that stimulates, almost
to frenzy, the ambitious desires of
public men. To prolong indefinitely,
through successive terms, the welding
Of that power, could not fail to arouse
hopes and aspirations in the mind of an
ambitious man, that would not halt at
the limits Of law or right; and would ex-
cite determination with strong hand
to hold what the strong hand had seized.
| We know that 1t Is argued that the
G constitution does not forbid it; and that
la precedent Is found in the fact, thai
third term nominations were proposed
for both Washington ~and Jefferson
That such nominations were proposed is
/ true; but the proposition does not con
stitute the precedent; 1t was the fac
that both of those eminent statesmen
positively declined such nominations, al
against public policy, that fixes the
precedent in that regard.
| We certainly would not spend this
much of our time and space in the dis
cussion of this matter il we considered
it amyth. Buta mythical thing it is not
: There is no man named in the Repub
liean party, as q possible nominee
for the Presidency, who does no
regard General Gram as an actiy'
opponent for the same honor. 1t il
not merely the bluster of the Office hold
ers, present and prospective, offered up
as incense to power, thai constitutes the
third term movement. The Silent Mar
, at the White House is In the arena, qui
city, but diligently, working tor himself
and he has many wires in hand where
: with to move tho puppets that he con
trolls. He is therefore not withou
strength. He may, indeed, receive th'
third term nomination. And while W.
J have no special right to advise the Re
publican party in the matter Of thei
nomination, we would simply say, that
if they desire the election of Demo
cratic President In this centennial year
then by all means re-nominate Genera
Grant. That will lunquestionably do it
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