The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-07
THIRD TERM ANALYZED.
Grants Claims" Upon the American Peo-
pie for Further Honors.
A Bad First Term and Worse Second In
dicates the Third.

| 4
politics and have been some time. There Is
no use in discussing Grants character as
soldier or as a man at this time. II Is not in
dispute. But his character as a statesman is
seriously in dispute, ard will be more so
should he consent TO be candidate for re-
election to the presidency. am opposed to
him as a candidate and shall be. Mp oppo-
sition arises from the love of my country
Grant made bad president during his first
term. He made a worse one during his &c
ond term. There is no reason why he would
not prove still worse, il that were possible,
should he get to be president third time.
Grant was never chosen by the nom
mating conventions because he was
universally regarded as qualified for
the Office; not at all. He was not
chosen because he had proven himself to be
great soldier even; not at all. The ma
chine nominated him because he was re-
garded as available" The people ratified
| the nomination, because their patriotism.
being shrewdly wrought upon by the poll
ticans, prompted them to reward their de-
serving soldier by giving him their greatest
| gift. In all this there was no statesman
ship. The reasons that actuated the poll
ticiaus were base and selfish. They were not
even complimentary to Grant. To push q
man forward for great office merely be-
cause he is available is to use his record for
a false purpose. 1t is the false pretsnse of
politics. They who do il are like the mon
key, the fellows who are after the chestnut.,
and they make use of their available can
didate like the use,the monkey n ade CT the
available cat-they get him TO secure for
them the nuts they themselves dare not
reach after The reasons why the people
elected Grant the first time were based on
/ gratitude. Such reasons are seldom the
reasons of craftsmanship, and they are sci.
dom called out and played upon in such a
/ great emergency the election of an Ameri-
can president, except by demsgogues. No
man ought ever succeed in reaching the
presidency of a country like this unless be
has well proven himself skillful and trust
worthy in the performance of just such
work as ne is called upon TO do in that
Office. There is every reason why the states
man should be president. There is every
reason why the good soldier should be sue
cessively promoted through the grades But
there is not one why be should be promoted
out of them. Then there is thing that
should never be forgotten. in politics. In
this country the success of any war
is mainly due to the execu-
tive who is at the time at the head
OF affairs and responsible for them, and
whose conduct of affairs evolves out OF the
nation the successful military leader. 1t was
different in the times of Alexander, C;e sar
| and Bonaparte. They were both ruler and
warrior. Their armies gathered for them
at their call and for their cause. 1t is entirely
different with US. Mr.. Lincoln personfed
the cause of the North. 1t was at his call,
for the purposes he proclaimed, and it was
under his management that the vast armies
OF the Union sprang into existence and
welded their tremendous powers against
disunion. That army knew ne general,
knew no leader but Lincoln; it knew no
cause sufficient for the great sacrifices it
offered to make but the one proclaimed by
Lincoln; it could never nave become
acquainted with any marsbals but those
sifted out from the ranks and elevated by
the policy which Lincoln used in his wise
craftsmanship. In this country no ambi-
tious soldier can step out from the ranks
and wage any personal war like ambitious
soldiers have been able to do in every other
country in the world. Here the army is no
personal property and can become no mans
clan. The president, by and with the con-
sent OF Congress, both depending on popu
lar suffrage calls the army into motion aud
controls its leaders. If the safety of the
present arrangement shall ever be disturbed
it seems that the disturbance Will be brought
about by disseminating the election of
statesmen to the presidency and placing
there in their stead men whose only qualif-
cations are military. Why should
the presidency of this Republic
be considered thing to reward men
with? 1t is the greatest and most powerful
office in the world the highest and most
honorable. To acquire it is to be the chosen
man of 100000 of free people. There
never was distinction like that. Why
make bsuble of this great thing? Wby
make a toy, a CONNECTION of it? What can any
living man do to deserve such gift as
ward? The presidency was created to be
filled. IL was designed to be worn as jewel
to enumerate the achievements OF any hu-
man being That man never lived worthy
to wear. as personal prizs about his small
neck, the presidency of the United States of
America. No, sir; the Office is the place
wherein the business of the American peo-
pie is to be directed and their business ss a
nshon is to them about the most serious and
important thing in the world. And no man
is fitted to be placed In that august station
except the one b. st qualified for that work
And no matter who he is, or what his
achievements. or what his deserts, it should
be impossible for him to become president
for any other reason than that OF being best
qualified for presidential work. When the
people learn this and act upon it, the polit
ical life of this nation will he healthier and
its public business will be the best managed
In the world, and the country will progress
with the great strides that are natural to it.
Now, then, what sufficient reason is
there for renominatiDg Grant? What reason
of any kind is there? Why is the matter
talked about? Why should it be even men
toned? Since he was twice elected because
as general of the Union armies he put down
the rebellion, are we to understand that
eight years of the American presidency is
not sufficient reward, and that it should
be completed and rounded off by four years
more? Upon such precedent the business
of instigatipg sediuons for the purpose of
earning the reward of putting them down
ought TO become lively among ambitious
soldiers. What an insult to the American
people Grant would offer by accepting a
nomination on sucL terms. Is any man so
necessary TO these, his countrymen, that
they must inevitably turn to him for gov
eminent? What audacity would it be in
Grant to say that to the people by run
ming again. Even il the people were
mistaken enough to suppose him ne
cessity and conveyed their supposition
TO him in the tender of third term, what