Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-26
THE THIRD TERM.
The Pros and Cons About lt..-How the Repub
licans Feel.

not hope to tell you any news about the
Grant reception here. That his advent
here has been the occasion of an extra
ordinary display of bunting, of an I'm
precedented gathering Of people, and a
perfect deluge of speech-making and
laudatory addresses, no candid observer
can deny. There was marvellous eager.
ness, on the part of all classes, to see the
hero of the greatest war, and to shake
the hand of the most notable gen.
eral of modern times, and this
curiosity was quickened, doubtless,
by the fact that, after having for two
terms filled the highest Office in the gift
of the people and retired TO private life,
the kings and princes of the east rose up
to do him homage, while he made the
circuit of the globe in the simple char
acter of an American citizen. Surely
there must be something more than ordi-
nary in the character of man who thus
commands the respect and homage of
the civilized world. The ovation has
been non-partissn and universal, and
had respect to past st vices, and was in
no sense inspired by the selfish gratitude
of politicians, which is said to consist in
lively sense of favors to come. That
Gen. Grant is confessedlv more popular
now than he was at any time during his
presidential career, or that he commands
a larger share of popular favor than any
other citizen of the Republic is not con-
elusive as to the expediency or advisibili-
ty of making him again the Republican
nominee for president. There is nothing
in the written or unwritten law of our
country to forbid his becoming third
time president. And it is utter nonsense,
in a government of the people, to say
that the people may not, or shall not,
elect to the presidency any qualified,
native born citizen as often as they
choose. The intervention of new
administration, at the close of Grants
second term of Office, does away with the
strongest objection to third term, viz:
that the incumbent would use the
influence of bis administration, and the
great army of Office, holders, to secure a
denomination. 1t is the province of the
people to choose Grant for third term,
if they SO desire. In my judgment, it is
too early yet to determine whom it will
be best for the Republican party to
nominate. Circumstances may conspire
before the next nominating convention
meets, to make Grant the almost unani-
NOUS choice of the party. And, on the
other hand, such may be the condition of
public affairs and such the temper of the
public mind that it may be advisable or
imperative to make different choice
The patriotic citizen will not seek to
forestsll the public judgment, nor COM
NIT himself irrevocably to any candi-
date, till all the elements necessary to
form correct opinion are before him.
It is wise to remember, too, that the
next presidential election is to be deter
mined, not by the display of flags, the
blare Cf trumpets, and the huzzas of
professional crowds, but by citizens
votes. And since the brszen exhibition
of solid rebel south during the last
year, it is the first duty of loyal citizens
to select presidential candidate whose
character and past services give assur-
ance not only that his administration
would secure the Legitimate fruits of a
national victory over secession and re-
bellion, but that he can secure the need
full votes to make him president. If
Gen. Grant is pre-eminently such man,
and his election would result in the
highest welfare of the nation, he should
be made the candidate. If Washburne,
Sherman, or any other qualified citizen
would best secure these results, he should
be made the candidate.
Since the first reception here [ have
conversed with many Republicans who
voted for Grant both in SO and in '72,
and found fen who said they would
not vote for him for q third term; others
said they did not think he ought to be
nominated, but they would vote for him
if he was the Republican candidate, but
the great majority Of Republicans here,
, think, prefer Grant.
The Greeley Republican leaders, like
Schurz, Gov. Fenton, Murat Halsted
anu Horace White, who did not apos
tatize and go over to the Bourbon
Democracy, having the pride of opinion
to maintain, very naturally enough are
opposed to Grants nomination. The
opposition to Grants second nomina.
ton, which did not spring from personal
motives, was chiefly from the anti
slavery element of the Republican party.
And | think you may take my case IS q
fair representative of that class. Hav-
ing no personal ax to grind, nor official
f favors to ask from the dispensers OF
, public patronage, nor pride OF lnfalli.
bility to maintain, and believing that
even the wisest mans hind sight is better
+ than his foresight, feel confident that
! my position is that of very large class
: of the old Abolitionists. I voted TO,
Grant the first time he ran, under
protest. At his second election did not
. vote for him, not because l believed him
3 corrupt, or dishonest, or incompetent
. but because I disliked his St. Domingo
policy and the character of many of hii
r appointees, and [ thought his previous
, training had not fitted him to wisely dis
T charge the duties of his high Office. AND
, therefore l voted for Greeley, whom
had long known intimately, and / have
q no apology to make for that vote. l wa
!. disappointed at the blind, stupid and in
+ excusable folly of the Democratic party
e during and after the presidential canvass
n and have not been surprised at any liz
coma diahO1ism nf tha Marty since tina