Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-11-27
THE THIRD TERN.
The Pros and Cons About .Kow the Repub'
licans Feel,

1HE xaxNU lENMs
The Pros and Cons About lt...Row the Repub.
licans Feel.
Correspondence OF the Mil. Evening Wisconsin.
CHICAGO, November II, 1871 do
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 .
perfect deluge of speech-making and
1audatory 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 filed 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 a man who thus
commands the respect and homage of
the civilized world. The ovation has
been non.partisan aud universal, and
had respect to past services, and was in
no sense inspired by the selfish gratitude
of politicians, which is said to consist in
a 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 theexpediency 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 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 his administration, and the
great army of of4ice.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 unsni-
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 q different choice.
The patriotic citizen will not seek to
forestall the public judgment, nor com.
NIT himself irrevocably to any candi'
date, till all the elements necessary to
form q 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 If trumpets, and the huzzas Of
processionsl crowds, but by citizens
votes. And since the brazen exhibition
of q 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 s
national victory over secession and re
bellion, but that he can secure the need
full votes to make him president. /
Gen. Grant is pre-eminently such man
and his election would result in tn
highest welfare Of the nation, he shoult
be made tbs candidate. If Washburne
Sherman, or any other qualified citizal
would best secure these results, he shoul,
be made the candidate.
Since the first reception here I hav'
conversed with many Republicans VIII,
voted for Grant both in '6S and in '72
and I found a tsav who said they wonl,
not vote for him for third term; other
said they did not think be ought to b
nominated, but they would vote for hin
if he was the Republican candidate, blu
the great majority Of Republicans here
l think, prefer Grant.
The Greeley Republican leaders, lik
Schurz, Gov. Fenton, Murat Halste
ana Horace White, who did not apo!
tatize and go over to the Bourbo
Democracy, having the pride Of opinio
to maintain, very naturally enough al
opposed to Grants nomination. Th
opposition to Grants second nomin;
ton, which did not spring from persons
motives, was chief from the ant
slavery element of the Republican part,
And 1 think you may take my case as
fair representative Of that class. Ha1
ing no personal az to grind, nor ici.
favors to ask from the dispensers {
public patronage, rcr pride of infall
bility to maintain, and believing tbs
even the wisest mans hind sight is bette
than his foresight, feel confident ths
my position is that of very large cla'
of the old Abolitionists. I voted fc
Grant the first time he ran, unde
protest. At his second election l did NJ
= vote for him, not because / believed biz
corrupt, or dishonest, or inccmpeten
but because I disliked his St. Domine
policy and the character of many of b
appointees, and I thought his previot
training had not fitted him to wisely III
charge the duties of his high Office. An
therefore I voted fer Greeley, whom
had long known intimately, and I hav
no apology to make for that vote. WI
disappointed at the blind, stupid and il
excusable folly of the Democratic part
during and after the presidential canvas
and have not been surprised at any il
sane diabolism Of the party since ths
time.
was also disappointed in Gen. Grant
for he learned wisdom by experience an
made a much better president the secon
term than the first, aud l am sure |,
retired from the office with the respe<
and good will of the great body of Abol
tionists who voted against him, or d,
clined to vote for him at his secon
election. And his modest 1emeanor an
eeh'poise during a continuous ~ovs
ton of two and a half years in &
parts of the world, unexample
in history, in which the potentatt
of the earth We'd with each othe
to do him honor, was crucial test {
character which has raised him in tn
esteem of all rejecting men. And b
is, doubtless, now far better qualified t
discharge wisely the duties of chic
magistrate, and would enter upon il
duties untrammeled by PERSONAL frienc