New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-12
GO SLOK.


supporters of the ex-President, at this stage of
affairs. as embodying IN example worthy their
imitation. Attention was directed in yester-
days TRIBUNE to the fact that the advice of the
third -termers to their opponents, at the begin
ming of the "boOm," to be patient and keep
perfectly cool, had been cOnscicntiOusly fol-
lowed, and that IN accordance with that advice
as we'll perhaps as with their own notions, moth
ing had been said in the canvass against the
ex-Presdents nomination that would call for
explanation or need to be taken back IN case
he should be the choice Of the Chicago COnvcn-
ton. Special care has been exercised by those
who were known from their previous record to
be opposed to the ex-President not to say or do
anything which might embitter the canvass or
leave heart-burnings for the future. They
have preferred not to lead in the opposition to
the third-term movement their attitude upon
that question being so well known, but to
leave the battle to be opened and the brunt of
| it to be fought by the representatives OF that
large and influential class of Republicans who
supported Grant with enthusiasm in 1872, but
are earnestly opposed to his denomination In
| 1880. The Liberal Republicans of 1872 have
| for the most part kept in the background. And
wisely For, in the first place, their opposition
to the third term was known and already dis
counted. 1t would have done no good for them
| to have come to the front in q fight IN which
the work could be so much more effectively
done, IL done at all, by men who had not al
ready put themselves upon the record. Then
again, they propose to abide by the action Of
the Convention and support the nominee as,
having had some experience OF Democratic
rule and seen somewhat of Democratic ten
denotes, they cannot conceive worse mis-
fortune to the country than the election of
Democratic President. They are ready to vote
even for the ex-Presdcnt as against Demo
cTat.
Their example is In this respect excellent.
Now we ask our friends who have been making
the fight for third tcrm-and, We are con-
strained to say, have carried it on with cOnsum
mate management and the shrewdest tactics,
and made OF it O brilliant campaign-we ask of
them to consider for moment one other feature
of the business. Unless there be Il confession
that the tbird-term movement is wholly selfish
and that those engaged in 1t are actuatcd
purely by motives of clf-aggrandizement it
must he admitted that their opponents have
much more at stake than they. Much more Of
principle, because they are upon record as OPP
posed TO tho nomination of Grant as O matter
of principle solely, and not from merely per-
sonnl considerations which, it is well known,
vanish III the campaign after tho nomination
has been made. These gentlemen are COM
mitted to opposition TO third term per Sc. To
support Grant after such cOmmittal would in
yOlye n sort of self-cOntradiciOn and apparent
reversal of judgment which no man likes to
have forced upon him, and none will consent
to except as a choice of evils cOmpcls him.
The anti Grant Republicans while making d
vigorous and earnest opposition to his nOmina-
ton, have with all this INDUCED IN no threats
of boiling, have maintained decorOus COM
posure under circumstances which might natur-
ally irritate and exasperate them, and have
almost universally held themselves ready in
the final event to make choice of evils, and
if necessary support Grant instead of any
Democrat 1t hardly needs to be pointed out that
the advocates of third term have no such
issue as this to meet. No question of principle
arises to hinder them from supporting any Of
he candidates named for the Republican
nomination. All of them are equally sound and
true Unless they are selfshly bound to the
thlrd-tcIm movement they can acquicsco in
the defeat of their favOrite with 10 sacrifice
whatever except that of a nero personal pref
erence.
Is it worth while for that to create n disturb
a1ce in the party, to accuse some of the
best men in it Of "dishonor" and
"infamy" to send double-headed dele
cations, hold double-headed Conventions,
and carry into the National Convention a bitter
and Incorporating dispute that can have no
other effect than imperil harmony and jeOp-
ardize SUGGEST We commend to our third
term friends, especially in Illinois and
in the press of New-York, tho example
which, under circumstances of q much more
difficult and trying character the opponents of q
third term have shown them. They have
waited patiently for the people to speak, in tho
determination 10 abide by the popular judg-
ment. They have not always been treated gen.