New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-24

petent Judge OF the relative weight Oh poilh
cal issues that on these two great classes OF
questions the Republican party can and VIII
be boldly aggressive, and that the honor ana
the interest of the American people will natu-
rally and necessarily sustain the party tnat
has done so much for the country. But Will
any candid man deny to himself or to the
Dnbhc that the very moment General Grant Is
nominated for the Presidency new issue Is
sprung upon the NatiOnY Men OF All
parties have been taught that it was
part Of the patriotic traditions, and indeed, OF
tie unwritten orsauic law Of the land. that
no man should be President more than two
terms, Washington enforced this law by his
impressive example, and al led a still more
impressive precept. Jefferson warned MS couh-
trymen that q third term would be the hrst
step toward introducing a title by inheritance"
Madison, Monroe and Jackson, the only other
Presidents who served two terms, confirmed
and enforced the wisdom and sanctlty OF
Washineton's example. All these precedents.
illustrious in name and weIghty by ex-
ample happened in the earlier history
of the Republic, when the Presidency
was comparatively small in power and Inn
tied in patronage. If to the earlier Presidents
and to the earlier generations Of Americans 1t
seemed dangerous to extend the power OF the
chief ruler, is it not probable. nay, Is 1t not
certain. that their descendants, lnhablting
continent and belonging TO n Republic with
more than imperial power, will dread the
proposed extension of rulership with all ITS
added prestige and its dangerous enlargement
of patronage?
w r,,, Two oft fhn
danger or absence OF danger in third term
we are only endeavOrinG to impress upon the
Republican delegates at Utica and upon Republi-
can conventions IN other States, that large pro-
portion of the American people may possibly
he influenced by such considerations a we
have named, and that the Democratic party,
quick to take advantage of every accident ana
incident, will be able 10 send to the rear the
great questions on which the Demo
crafts are W ak, while the Republicans
are strong, and to bring at once to
the front the only question on which the
Democrats themselves can hope to be
successfully aggressive. Until General Grant
shall he nominated the National and the
financial questions will engage the attention OF
the people the day after he Is nominated the
Democratic party viii become aggressive on
the new issue which the Republicans
have voluntarily and needlessly rendered
to them Is there not danger that
large number of Republican voters may
conclude that the hazards of single term OF
Democratic rule would better be incurred
than the risk of gratuitOus and unnecessary
violation of the great principle which they
have inherited, strengthened rs it is in their
minds by such illustriOus precedents VIII
they not very naturally ask Themselves whether
il is not tantamOunt to prOnounclng republic
can government failure if, among fifty mil
lions of people. we declare that there is
only one man who should now he
intrusted with the rcins of government,
and he the one who has already served TWO
terms in that high Office 7 Agernon Sidney
sacrificed his life to establish the doctrine
even in monarchical England that there should
be "a government of laws aud not a govern
"ment of men," Is it not political fact, 20
which wise politicians cannot shut their eyes
that there are voters throughout the Union
who would regard the election Of General
Grant to a third term as the first great step III
the American Republic toward u government
Of men rather than a government OF lawsf
Shall we hold the aggressive, in the coming
campaign, or shall we commit ourselves III
advance TO a nomination that puts lis in
evilably and Immediately on the deienhyef