The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-11
CURRENT TOPICS.
THE THIRD TERM QUESTION

| CURRENT TOPICS.
|
| THE THIRD TERM QUESTION.
Mr.. Horace White. formerly editor of the
Chicago Tribune, has delivered lecture In New
York. before the Independent Republican AS
ISOLATION. Of which he Is president. on the sub
ieot of third term politics. He said that the
form Of government next below the American
was that species of imperialism which was put
| In practice In France by Napoleon III. where
| there was q permanent executive and govern
| Ing class. After abiding to the failure of this
| form In France Mr.. White said that It was not
to be denied that In the large cities there was q
wealthy class of people who were tired Of the
uncertainties Of government. and who would
prefer to have no more Congresses. nor more
sessions of the Legislature for long time to
come. and who would like permanent execu-
tive. Their practical abandonment OF the du-
ties Of citizens, practically created what might
| be called the rule Of the slums." which was
government OF the worst class of the eommu-
nifty. At present In this country. the govern
ment was carried on by the best and the worst
classes. who. In a manner. eaualizsd each
other. so that man like Tweed might be q
governing power to-dsy and to- morrow a fugi-
| tive from justice. Unless there was vigilant
watch by each Individual citizen. there was no
escape from the rule OF the slums. except by
despotism. Mr.. White said the current talk
about a Strong government" meant des-
| Potism. 1t implied something stronger
than the constitution. and how
| much stronger would be for the
Governor or despot to decide. The objeo-
ton to third term was that 1t broke down a
national tradition. The time. he thought. had
not yet come when the American Republic was
so destitute Of able men that only one could be
found fit to be President. when that time does
come" said Mr.. White. I suppose that we shall
continue to elect that man term after term and
pray to God that he may live forever. because IL
he should die or go crazy we should all go to
smash" II It was objected that the election OF
Gen. Grant would not be consecutive third
term all that could be said was that 1t was
either third term or arst: and II first.
there was nothing In our traditions or preos-
dents to forbid second; and 80 the advocates
OF his election were really committing them-
selves In favor Of a fourth term. The remedy
for the evils at present existing. Mr.. White
said would be In combating any movement to
perpetuate the strength of the governing
classes and to defeat the movemnt for third
term.
VANDERBILT STILL IN THE RING.
report having been circulated that William
Ell. Vanderbilt contem plated retiring from the
management Of the affairs of the Hudson River
and New York Central. aud that his recent
large purchases Of government bonds from the
sale Of his New York Central stock would be
followed by other sales Of the stock OF that and
other roads In which he is interested. and th at
| the proceeds of these sales would be invested
| In more government bonds. reporter of the
New York Tribune interviewed the great rail-
road king on the subject. Mr.. Vanderbilt, In
reply to question. said that there was not q
word Of truth In any OF these reports. He
| further remarked that the most unauthorized
statements were put afloat aud printed In some
| OF the New York journals and those Of the
| West. without stopping to inquire into their
truth or falsity. An intimate friend of Mr. Van
derbit said that as Mr.. V. owned s26. 900 Of
Central stock 1t did not look much like retiring
| from connection with that road. and that, more
| over. he had recently heard him say that he in
tended to continue his connection with the
| New York Central. Lake Shore and Michigan
Central roads as long as he lived 1t is true
that Mr. Vanderbilt Is becoming urge owner
Of government bonds. He is said to have In his
possession at this time s.3 GOO 600 Of bonds and
before July will hold $50 600 900.
EXPENSIVE CHARITY.
| A correspondent. speaking of kindne ss re-
marks hatthere are few cities which show more
OF 1t. under the name of charity. than New York.
but 1t costs pile of money In fifteen years
| the people OF the American metropolis have run
| up the cost OF supporting their charities from
sl127 900 to $4,000 900. and the tax on each man
woman and child for public charity alone
amounts to from 81 so to 81 40 per annum. The
total appropriate IN is. of course. far In excess
OF what 1t should be. but the managers of all the
institutions say they can't reduce the expenses
one dollar There Is evidently a leak some
where, but not one of them seems able to dis
cover where 1t is. or II he does Is unwilling to
tell. Perhaps Ii these charitable institutions
were run less In the interest of the honest
philanthropists who manage them, and more
In the interests OF humanity and the public
welfare. the cost Of running them would not be
80 great. The correspondent referred to above
estly and economically. but i5 Is notorious thai
several such institutions Ia New York are chief
ly as ylums for mon and women who get con-
troll of them and spend the appropriations as
they please. people who make philanthropy a
profession. and manage to pick comfortable
living out of 1t at the public expense. Cowley' 8
shepherds Fold" is cited as an illustration on
| spent for charity In New York really goes. 1t is
said, to support lot of lazy people who ought
| to be working for living, as those who are
taxed for the whole have TO do
1 FT