Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-16
The Third Term.

II ihr Ellior of the Free Press 4 Times:
Ii anything is certain in regard to The ten
dcncy Of the popular mind it is that the peo-
pie are adverse to the idea of even second
reelection of the same man Tor frcsldeht'
Many have called for a constitutional amend
ment that would make man ineligible 10 a
second term Everybody must be aware ol
this feeling among the people, and yet The
managers have been so successful IN then
manipulalions that it seems to be settled
that Gen Grant is to he the candidate OF the
Republican party for third term. 1t is
possible that some dark horse" is hidden III
the shadow of this movement. and the people
will be surprised by the appearance OF can
didae. hardly thought OF rs yet. II the
movement is sincere then there is an abund-
ant explanation of the great ado that is made
over the General People arc getting very
tired and sick of the parade which has be-
come nauscous Would our glorious Lin
coin ever have permitted it us question
asked by not few.
was satisfied Immediately after the battle
at Fort Donelson, that Gen. Grant was the
coming man, and no one can excel me IN ap-
probation of our ex-President's great ser
vices; but the welfare of our country Is, or
should be- paramount to the exaltation OF
any individual, however meritorlols. 30 lar
as the appreciation of eminent services is
concerned, Gen Grant has been abundantly
rewarded. Why then is it proposed to make
precedent that will render third term
ever possible object of personal or party
ambition? Is there any need of it Has the
Republic already reached a point when only
one man can save 1t? Has our country no
Republican in it. who could acceptably
serve his country as chief magistrate?
The movement for the denomination oil
Gen. Grant seems to me fraught with dan
ger If he should be defeated he will de
plorc, and so shall We all, who are his friends.
that in an evil hour he consented to stand in
a position to which none of our Presidents
have aspired, and TO which there is a firmly
established sRdH deeply-rooted opposition
among the people. The most oil us wei
coined the promise of President Hayes, made
when accepting his nomination, that he
would never allow his name to be used for
reelection. He met the popular demand,
and perhaps his election was partly due to
that promise, as being in accordance with
what appeared to he the settled purpose OF
the people to insist upon the one term princi-
pie. We have come to feel that an
Administration long in powerl is Ger
tain to grow corrupt, that instead OF
devoting itself to the public welfare
it is pretty sure TO he governed by desire to
perpetuate itself-that it is liable to bring
into existence a governing class, far removed
from the people need not specify more
largely the objections which very many
cherish to even second term. 1t would be
an occasion for profound regret 10 have Gen.
Grant defeated, and it is far from certain
that he can be elected. The voters who are
decidedly opposed to third term will not
be likely to discover any great controlling
necessity for Gen. Grants reelection.
Not many, trust, have so little faith in
our institutions and in the people as to feel
that the destiny of the Republic lies in one
mans hands, Many will feel that there is
no danger in present exigencies, surprising
the peril of the repeated elevation, beyond
all precedent, of any one man to the Presi-
dency am aware that political managers
regard the people as blind giant, 10
be led anywhere in subserviency to
party management tnlih they "'.S
find themselves mistaken. Perhaps the rule,
Whom the Gods would destroy they first
make mad" will apply to this case Perhaps
Fate programme includes the destruction of
the Republican party Although no pro
phd, predict the defeat Of the party, il il
follows the guidance of those who are lead
Ing it into imminent peril. We honor and
love Gen Grant. We wish he had not allow
ed the world to make such fuss over him,
but it will take great deal of blind folly to
remove him from the pedestal where his
brilliant career has placed him. We cannot
vote for him the third time. We see no need
of il, and we discover, or think we do, great
peril in it, and danger TO the stability of our
Republic.
God forbid that at such a time as this, w
should make dangerous mistake.
lSSUI T.