Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-02-11
GDo Constitution itself

UC CSOpstitubiOu ltSell
c. M. Benbl On 1t or in the
q vegetable curepublIc against
traits sometLRlIss continuous
ing Of this in the proposal to elect a
President third time, after he has
served two consecutive terms. The
examples Of Washington, Jeffer-
son, Madison and Monroe, who per-
manently retired from public life
after each serving two terms, are
not precedents applicable to Grant.
They were old men, and there was
neither call nor need for their fu-
ture services. Grant is IN the
prime Of manhood, has had large
experience in public affairs, has
won the esteem Of all parties, is ex-
ceedingly popular, and has a repu.
tation for force Of character, firm
ness and honesty beyond that of
ey living American.
In the face Of such stupendous
inpudence we are tempted to ex-
claim, "In the name of the Prophet,
hgs." We are told, referring to
Washington and Jefferson, that
There was neither call nor need
for their services" And yet these
tlIustrious Americans voluntarily
set the limit OF moderation in the
Presidential Office which has run
into q tradition in the United
States. With the exception of
Jackson, they were probably the
only Americans who could have
been elected to third term, had
they desired to serve. The Chroni.
Gle next has the matchless effront.
cry to talk of the conceded "hon-
esty" of Grant, when his known
protection OF official thieves is the
blacklist cloud which hangs over
his civil administration.
Fortunately far abler pen than
ours discussed this question in the
Argonaut, the day before this
precious morceau of the Chronicle
saw the light. The Argonaut, after
glancing at Hayes, and the one term
principle proclaimed by him be-
fore his election and tacitly adopted
by the Democracy, goes on to say:
Yet, in spite of these facts, there
are certain influences in the Repub-
Iican party apparently resolved not
only to put aside the one.term
principle, but to even abolish all
restrictions upon the continuance
Of the Chief Magistracy in any
named individual, and to make the
effort to elect the same citizen to
that office at least for third term,
Of course if they succeed in this
movement there Is an end to the
long. established rule that two
terms are the limit beyond which
no citizen is to hold the Office. Is
the Republican party In favor of
this change in the upwritten law of
the land? Or is the clamor for the
nomination of General Grant con-
fined to his personal following, con.
sisting of those who have held of
flee under him? Can it be that the
Republican party has fallen so
completely under the domination
OF the mere place-hunter that the
voices Of its voting masses are
stified and those of contractors and
office. holders alone can be heard?
Is this party prepared to admit
that it has been reduced to the con.
dition of having but one man cana.
pable Of administering the affairs
OF the nation; or, to take the other
view, has 1t but one available can
didate? And is it willing to over.
throw a cherished tradition of the
nation, proceeding from the lips of
Washington himself, in order to
elect its favorite? This may all be;
but we, at least, do not believe that
matters have come to such desper-
ate straits with the party that has
elected every President for twenty
years. We do not believe the Re-
publican party is reduced to a sim
gle candidate for the Presidency. or
even to a choice between a few
named individuals.
In ourunpretendipg way we have
often made this point, and are
pleased to see 1t echoed with such
from such an influential
quarter. The Argonaut goes on to
say:
Is the Republican party so at
fached to General Grant or any
other man that it is willing for his
sake to abolish the rule that no
man is to be President more than
twice. All of this is, we hold, as
1uming that the administration of |
Grant was creditable to him and
beneficial to the nation, which
many Republicans do not think.
rhe point we make Is that the peo.
pie OF the United States land the
Republican party make up the best
i that do not want, and, at least in
'ur time, will not have any man