The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-18
gatEfsceIIa1ent1s.
sEoRnr OF GRANT MOVEMENT.
Its Origin in Scheme 10 Change our Form Of
Government.


Its Origin in Scheme 10 Change our Form Of
Government.
The Senate syndicate, Conkling, Cam
eron and Logan, know that they can use
Grant, aud can reckon on his deficient
knowledge of men. If he is elected, they
are masters of the situation, and can dis
pose of the offices and other patronage.
But the Grant movement has another,
far deeper significance, which does not
appear on the surface. A hidden factor
lies at the foundation, whose import,
anCe will only be apparent and will be
rightly estimated in later years. For
years, among portion of our people,not
wholly insignificant in numbers indeed,
but really important in wealth and posi-
tion, there has arisen wish for change
in our form of Government. There are a
multitude of people who are dissatisfied
with the way our democratic republican
machine works. These people are weary
of the many and aimless elections. They
fear that our system of government will
in the long run prove insufficient to pro.
teCt person and property. They would
like to be rid of the everlasting political
exCitements and uncertainties, which in
their opinion work disastrously to busi-
ness interests. They want strong and
permanent government, if possible, in
the hands of a single person, who will
make an end to all disagreeable confu.
They know, naturally, that this could
not come to pass all at once. Even the
third and fourth election of Grant could
not effect q change in the form of our
government. But meanwhile the regu
lar reelection of the came President
would be the necessary introduction to
the future transformation it would be the
beginning of the end. 1t appears to
these people, not as their aim, but as the
first step towards attaining their end.
They consider therefore, that the abol-
ishment of that usage which limits the
Presidency to two terms would be an
entering wedge, which would be speed.
lily followed by other and similar devia.
tions from the Republican path. There.
fore they are so very much in favor of
the third term,
These people calculate quite rightly
that in all such revolutions it is only a
question of the first step. 1t is only the
first step that costs. Only the beginning
is difficult. That being once made the
rest often follows of itself. If the people
become accustomed to one radical alter
ationathey will soon understand how to
accustom themselves to others. If the
doctrines and example of the fathers Of
the Republic come once into discredit,
the work of their hands will not endure
much longer. The name may still re.
main ""after the spirit and substance
have been changed or slain. Such are
the calculations of that element who, in
the supposed interest of their own wei.
fare and of quiet, order and safety, long
for transformation in our government.
It is not difficult to surmise either why
they psrceive precisely in General Grant
the person fitted to realize their wishes.
There are probably three main reasons
for it:
First-General Grant is soldier and
successful soldier. The faint hearted
element who despair of the Republic
seek for strong arm, one that can check
tumults, overthrow workingmen's riots,
and cast the sword into the scale at con.
tested elections. They fear that the
country can no longer be ruled by the
ballot alone, and believe that it would
be better to give themselves up to the
protection of a dreaded and resolute
military man.
In the second place they know from
experience that Grant is not the man to
be stopped in the attainment of an aim
by proper considerations or constitution
al scruples. He proved this repeatedly
during his eight years of administration.
His manipulation of his favorite project,
the annexation of San Domingo, and his
use of the military in the organization
of Southern Legislatures, proved sufi,
GENTLY that constitutional prohibitions
or limitations we're for him mere side
affairs, through which he would by no
means allow himself to be hindered
from following out an appointed plan.
Thirdly, the particular prediction
which led him almost always to cult
vate only the friendship and acquaint-
ance of rich people, won the good
opinion of those who fancy their prop.
erty is endangered by the abuses and
exCesses of our republican system
In0y bG6 III U6u6Thl OTduG u I6bCuoE OI
society, like the First and Third Napo.
leon, who will guard them from the
appalling red specter of anarchy and
perhaps even socialism. Grant is in |
their eyes the protector and champion
of the property.owning class, which |
personally is to him the dearest and
most worthy. He is the sheet anchor to |
which they wish to attach themselves,
From him they expect the establish
ment and maintenance of the necessary
order, quiet and safety, and they intend |
to re.elect him from term to term, and |
in this way to acCustom the people |
slowly and by degrees to the continued |
rule of one person. The next move will |
reveal itself. When the time comes the |
plan comes.
This is the secret plot which a very
influential element of our population has
busted themselves for years, and which
now is to be slowly ripened. No wonder,
then, that the instinct of the masses of
the people repel the Third Term. The
people feel that when once even a little
hole is bored through the protecting
dam, the threatening waters will widen
this hole more and more, till the food
can break through the whole dam, and
roll destroying over the.land. F. Has.
sGurek, in Cincinnati VolkSblatt, Rep.
AN OBJECTION TO BLAINE.