The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-05-07
THIRD-T
The Disasters that it Caused to
the Republican Party
in 1874;
AND THE EFFECTUAL REMEDY THAT
WAS APPLIED BY THE PARTY
IN 1875.
Baltimore American (Rep }, April 2s.

Baltimore American (Rep }, April 2s.
The first term OF Gen. Grant as President
drove Sumner, Greeley, Trumbull, and other
eminent Republicans from the ranks, and might
have lost the party the elections but for timely
Democratic blunders. The second term OF Gen.
Grant was more fraught with disasters to the
party that had carried the election than was
ever any Presidential term before. The follow
ing facts and figures should furnish food for
thought:
In 1872 Gen. John A. Dix was elected Cover
nor of New York by 5l,s25 Republican majori-
ty. AS chief executive Of the Empire State, he
served her people with ability and integrity
At the expiration OF his term, in 1874, he was
renominated, but the friends OF Gen. Grant in
the New York custom house, the post offices,
and internal revenue Offices throughout the
State had control OF the Convention, which re-
solved:
THAT the administration Of Gen. Grant has
been distinguished for achievements IN domes-
tic and foreign policy unsurpassed in the histo-
ry OF the country"
A few weeks later the Liberal Republicans OF
New York met IN convention, and although
they made no nomination, under the inspira-
tion of Ex-Gov. Fenton, Gen. Merritt, now
collector OF customs OF New York, and others,
they resolved:
That we declare our uncorapromising hos
tilty to any pretentions towards perpetuating
power in the hands OF the same person beyond
second term such pretenslons deserve and
should receive the indignant condemnation OF
the people"
A week or two later the Democrats met in
convention, and declared: a
"The Presidency of the United States isl
public trust, not private perquisite, and there
should be no third term OF it,"
On this issue Samuel j. Tllden WAS elected
Governor by 50,3l7 majority, which seems to
indicate change of 100000 votes in just two
years. and that New York was irrevocably op-
posed to third term of the Presidency.
Gen. John F. Hartranft was elected Governor
of Pennsylvania on his merits as q soldier and
public officer by q Republican majority OF 34,-
96s in, October, 1872. month later the same
State gave Gen. Grant . majority OF $4,000 FOR
second term OF the Presidency, but at the Re-
publican State convention, in 1873, Mr.. Allison,
of Juniata county, offered the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, That II Gen. Grant be candi-
date for the third term, the Republican party or
Pennsylvania would support HIM"
The Hon. O. J. Dickey, successor Of Thad-
deus Stevens in Congress, opposed the resolu-
ton, and said:
"Ir Gen. Grant desires third term, there is
honesty and patriotism enough in the Republi-
can party to stand by the precedent established
by Washington. No man in this country ought
10 violate the example set by the Father OF his
Country. Should such thing be attempted.
the people, with a unanimity with which they
rushed forward TO save the Union, would crush
out the man who would dare TO break down so
wise a precedent. The people of Lancaster
county are most emphaticay opposed to a third
term
At the general election which followed, Mr..
Latta, Democrat, was elected Lieut-Governor
by majority of 4,679, despite the majority OF
$4,000 cast for Gen. Grant only two years be-
fore: thus PENNSYLVANIA set her face against
a third-term movement.
The Republican State convention OF Ohio
took no action, either for or against, third
term. but the Democratic convention OF that
State resolved
"That we have seen with alarm and regret
the advocacy in influential quarters OF the elec-
tion OF President Of the United States for .
period beyond that to which traditions and
usagas Of the country have almost gwen the
sanction OF fundamental law that such an
election would be long stride on the road to
protracted monarchy and personal despotism,
and we are decidedly IN favor of establishing
the one-tsrm principle by an amendment to the
The Republican majority in Ohio was "a ,268
IN 1872, but upon this issue, as presented by
the Democrats, the entire Democratic State
ticket was elected by II, ,2O2 ma jority, and there
could be no mistaking that plain verdict which
Ohio rendered against third term Of the Pres
ldency
In 1872 Indiana gave Gen. Grant $1,000 ma
jority but the third-term issue resulted in a
Democratic majority Of 1922 in 1874.
The State of Illinois gave a majority OF &c.
42O for Gen. Grant IN 1872 bat in 1874 decided
against the third-term business by electing a
Democratic State ticket by $4,000 majority
change in two years OF about $4,000 votes.
New Jersey gave Grant 14,1SO majority in
1872, indorsed him in 1874, aud nominated G leo.
A. Halsey, q pronounced third-term man, for
Governor, and the Democratic candidate was
elected by 1928 majority.
Massachusetts, gave Grant "a ,212 majority in
1872, but the tbird-term wave struck the old
Bay State in 1874, and Castor, Democrat, was
elected Governor by 7,0S2 majority change
of 81 900 votes in two years.
In addition to the election OF o great many
Democratic State officers in 1874 to succeed Re
publicans, the third-term issue OF that year al
so resulted in the election to the Senate OF the
United States of number Of Democrats in the
place Of Republicans, notably Herman, Of New
York; Wallace, Of Pennsylvania Mcdonald, OF
Indiana; Eaton, OF Connecticut; Cockrell. OF
MISUNDERSTANDING Fepson, Scott, Pratt, Buck