New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-03
THE THIRD TERM MOVEMENT.

REASONS WHY HE SHOULD do IN HIS OhN
INTEREST.
70 tie Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR; 1t is evident that a great change has taken
Mace in the popular feeling in reference to the Re-
publican nomination in the last few months. Ihere
are MANY things now clear which even last WINTER
were the subjects of hot and honest dispute In the
first place there is no longer anything left OF the
theory that General Grant is the unanimous and en-
thusiastc choice Of the people for reelection o1
his return from his travels last year the public ill.,
terest took such form OF adniring enthusiasm that
It might easily appear to the over-sagaclOus poll
ticians, whose sight is more less blinded by their
own greeds to indicate general public clamor for
his restoration to the Presidency. There were many
reasons apparently justfyng such an assumption.
General Grant was undoubtedly the best known
man III the world, the with whose name the
American people we're certainly most familiar A
very large majority of the people read no books,
but everybody reads newspapers, or talks with
those who do; and during the last year
and half General Grants name has been
in print, In way to DO read, oftener
than that of any other man who ever lived, In the
same space of time. The interest and the feeling of
personal acquaintance thus engendered gave rise
TO those enormous demonstrations in San Fran
CISCO Chicago and Philadelphia, which, for q mo-
ment created the impression that the movement
for General Grants reelection was irresistible.
But the moment the State Conventions began to
be held it was seen that the class Of working poti-
clans had drawn false inference from these dem
onsrations Of popular interest. Itthen becamt cN-
dent that while people of the United States had
taken General Grant to their hearts as great gen.
eral and great patriot, and their most illustrious
citizen they had no intention whatever OF violating
an uuwrittep constitutional law by making him
President the third time. The politicians however,
discovered this fact too late They had made their
arrangements to send solid delegations from their
States to the Chicago Convention. They had COM
mitted themselves so far that they could not re-
treat The delegations from New-York and Penn
sylvania were instructed under whip and spur, for
Grant, although it was evident at the time that
majority of the Conventions not of that way of
thinking; and the canvass subsequently set on foot
by THE TRIBUNE and other papers made
it matter of certainty that enormous
majority of the people who took an interest in poll
tics were opposed to the third term. 1t Is now
evident to almost all intelligent men, in politics and
out that IL General Grant is nominated he will owe
his nomination not to any popular demand, but to
the enormous influence and untiring eXertiOns of
Senators Conkliug, Cameron and Logan.
There is one man, however who does not know
this and he is precisely the man who. in his in
terest and the interest of the country ought, pos
sible, to be made TO know 1t. If General Grant
could see the political situation in the way in which
moro than half the leading Republicans see it, the
Danger which now impends over the Republican
party would be Immediately averted. The man
who can persuade General Grant to with
draw from this canvass will do the best
days work for the Republican party eyer done.
This / know Will be very dlincult tnng'
He probably. never hears word from rom
those around him, except that the nomination is IN
his hands that it is his duty to rum that lie would
be elected by an overwhelming majority, ana re-
sort of stoiid dignity about the General which
makes it very formidable matter to say disagree
able things to him. Mr. Borie naively confesses
that he went all the way to Calcutta to advise the
General not to allow his name to be used
in connection with the nomination, and
H st the u %S d that 6p be aS ali the S %ay
to San Francisco without once referring to it, Mr.
Russell Young tells everybody that the subject
never was mentioned on the journey, and that he
does not believe man living knows whether Cen
eral Grant will accept q nomination or not. But
there ought to be some way OF making the General
see that there considerations worth his hearing
In regard to this matter.
In the first place, he is now, as l said, the best
known man in the world. He Is not only the most
popular In America but he is In all probability
the most popular foreigner In every other country
III his lifetime what other great men only obtain
otter their 1eaths-a sort of historical and settled
renowD. IL he enters public life again he Will GER
tainly lose n great portion of this commanding
fame He will lie abused during six months with
fury aud malignty such as hitherto he has had no
experience of Every vile calumny winch the I'M,
agDatOD Of partisan writers, inHamed by hate aud
envy, can suggest. will be poured ont upon him.
twill be printed not only IN this country, bnt ln
TO honor him will be led to ask whether all this
furious dcnuncIatlon has no foundation in fact.
secondly 1t is evident that he cannot oh. OBJ
At present some Democrats talk about voting for
him, but 1t may be gravely doubted whether their
no question whatever that his nomination will be
followed by most serious detection of Republican
eSGI Votes fS eadn Gema daily tS
Ohio that not One-tenth of the Germans
of that State would vote for him II nominated
clusively from the cities of Cincinnati and Ccve-
land If we lose all the German votes in those two
cities, tho Democrats will carry the State by q
great majority. If we lose One-half Of them it will DO
virtually impossible for to carry the state. 40
not know of the extent of German disafecton to
great in Illinois, and, from what 1 have heard, will
30 serious in New YORK bnt IL what the GcIlnans Oh
Ohio say Is true, the detection in that state alone
will defeat the Republican ticket In tho Nation.
There are also many thousands OF Americans VINO
will vote against any man running for third term,
and this is q year when there arc no Republican
votes to spare
General Grant himself and his best friends must
admit that this would be sorry and ignoble end
ing of great career. To contrast his present post
tiOn-loved, honOred and admired beyond all living
Americans-with the position he would occupy next
which his nomination had ruined, it seems
to me would be enough to cause him
tST HIM e the position ny is
candidate, and that occasion has arisen for
hum to accept or decline that position he is can
didate, aud tho most prominent one now before the
landed at San Francisco 70 say whether he
would accept or decline the nomination
for the Presidency, He must know that the
question of his nomination is the question of the
hour and ne can decline it any time II he chooses.
aud no one will question the taste or prolrIety OF
his doing So.
For myself. and think l can speak for many
Others, shall work and vote Tor General Grant
with a good heart, If he is nominated. believe he
snnnId maka a Oond President. But cannot sae