The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-25
What Does He Want I1 For2
New York Herald,


Why does the ex-president seek a re-
nomination? Why is he so anxious for it
that he enters the field as contestant
against the other candidates. Why does
he, with encouraging telegraphs. urge his
supporters to force the viii of conventions,
to misuse state patronage to secure dele
gates. and to thrust him in other ways, and
10 all possible ways. upon the party which,
every inquiry shows, does not want him?
Can 1t be true that the ex-president is
animated by personal mbition Is he a
citizen who seeks to subordinate the public
good and the public safety to his private
will and personal advantage 1t is hate :
full TO believe this of him, but what are his
fellow citizens to think2 After all, the
period from 1869 to 1877 is not so long
past that the American people have for
gotten its events. They remember that
the ex-presldent ruled in the White House
more like military chief than civil
magistrate. They remember that when
scandal came to disgrace some of his chief
dthcers he defed public opinion by either
retaining them in his service or giving
them letters OF praise and commentator
when they were forced by popular indig-
nation and clamor to resign. They remem-
Der that, bringing the habits of the camp
1nto the civil administration. he made his
and to constitutions. But all this they
torgave him, because, they said, ''he was
not trained to civil administration; We will
not deal harsnIy with bin for his errors"
hat his civil administration was not
success be himself admitted in his last
message; and the vast and immediate
Improvement in the condition and spirit of
the country which has come about under
his successor, purely and strictly civilian
administrator who has taken the constitu-
ton Tor his guide at every step, is suffi2i-
ent proof, 1t proof were needed, that the
country does not need military methods in
the White House or in the government.
But here comes the ex- president, and,
STOPPING from his exalted position as an
hoDored private citizen, net merely asks
the people to give him third term of the
presidency, but discovering that bis party
does not take kindly to the suggestion.
allows and encourages his followers 10 re-
sort TO all the lower arts OF political man
ageEnent 20 secure bin the needed mum Der
'of delegates at Chicago. The country
does not need him; the party does not
want him; but he insists,
lis not this rightly regarded by thought-
tui men as portentous and evil phenom
e1on IN our political history? II is the
nrst sIme since the formation OF the consti |
tuition that citizeB has demanded third |
term OF the Presidential office. and that
citizen is a military man, who has never
been able to shake off the habits of the |
camp or grasp the spirit of constitutional
aud civil administration. What does it |
mean? The country is at peace without |
and within; the sections are reconcied
and unite in works of utility and beneyo. |
ieuce. The people everywhere are pros |
porous and contented. The numerous
scandals of the last administration are not
forgotten, to be sure, but they have found |
10 repetition under it's successor; the nub-
lie service is clean and economically con-
Quoted; the constitution is re-estabiisbeo?
On what plea, for what cause, does the
ez-president seek, and by suoh doubtful |
methods. the nomination for third term /? |
we have asked this question before. and
we mean to repeat it again. for 1t is one to
which the people have right to demand |
clear and satisfactory answer. If it is mere
personal ambition, as it seems to be, then /
It Is time that Americans of all parties /
should know it. There is no room under /
our system Tor unhallowed and degrading
personal ambitions. The president is to
DC the servant, not the master. of the conn. /
us-so says the constitution, which very