Towanda daily review. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1879-1921, 1880-02-20
Beecher on Grant.

dinner in New York the other day: In re-
spending to the toast "Our Country" he
said:
''It is not in the power Of any man that
ever lived to have guided this country to
prosperity in shorter period than has
elapsed since the Inauguration of General
Grant. | think so remarkable a recovery
after war has not been recorded in the ma
tional life of any country. 1t is alleged
that General Grant had about him men
not SO wise nor so good as himself
Uaughter.) l only wonder, gentlemen,
that there were not more Of them. This
state of affairs was produced by the war,
by the blOating of the whole country; and
the rot and corruption that had entered
the whole community was such that ]
marvel that he with all his integrity and
and strong practicle sense, was able to do
as we'll as he did. He was able to come
out from eight years of experimental ad-
ministration without u spot on his person
al integrity; with record in which there
From the time of his Inauguration down
to the close of his administration the af-
fairs of the nation were steadily creeping
back to a sound foundation; and to speak
Of that part Of his record is as great a
compliment as can be paid to any man.
"Then came the Inauguration of our
President Hayes. 1t is said he struck ont
no new and dazzling career; that he has
not shown the genius Of statesman
Gentlemen, when the physician meets
with patient, and, after diagnosing his
case, finds that he needs rest and recuper
alton only, is he not as skilful as the ply
sician who keeps drugging the patient be-
yond the possibility of his getting well?
1t was so in regard to the prosperity Of
our country. Much has been done to fur
ther this prosperity, and we stand now on
the eve of one step further. Allow me to
say in the first place, that if | had my own
way | would vote for General Grant to
come back. (Applause.) l should vote
for him partly because I wish to bear tes.
timoDy against that hereSay third term
refuse to allow any party or any political
faction to take away from me the right to
call again to office that officer who haSfnl-
filled the functions Of his office to the sat
isfaction of the majority Of his country
men; because | believe that | have the
right to ask that he should try again
(Laughter) don't believed in going into
an election handicapped. If horse has
won Il race he ought not to be so over
weighted that he has no chance to
run against other competitors. APP
plause. ! should select him not merely
as a testimony of my objection to the
hereSy mentioned, but also as protest in
behalf or the right of the people to choose
the man they went. What we want in our
government is stability and continuity. 1t
is point OF weakness that our present
President holds Office only four years, and
occasions unnecessary disturbance of
our affairs throughout the whole country.
And yet to have an officer elected for life
would be going to the other extreme.
The best thing, therefore, is to re-eect
the man found competent for the Office,
and who commands the respect aud coli
tidence of our citizens. Therefore, hold
that third, term is IN proper order, and
may be a wise thing-or even a fourth
term. Applause And even then, if you
want him, if he has your confidence, you
might give him fifth term. 1t takes
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