The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-06-30
The Third Term Issue.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI, June 24th, 1881.
EDITORS CLARION. Taking no stock for
or against any member of the Democratic
party in the coming election. beg to call
the attention of the Democratic readers
of The CLARION, the recognized organ
of the party, TO some wise suggestions
found in the article of Billy Grubber,
found in THE CLARION of the 23d instant.
claim the liberty TO do this, because am
no novice in Mississippi politics Having
been voter, and having actually voted for
every Democratic Governor Of this State
from the year 1887 to the present time, and
in my humble way, participated ia every
general election in the State for forty-:our
wears, | claim 10 understand the principles,
usages and practices OF the party as declared
and advocated in Mississippi for near half a
century.
"Billy Grubber." to me unknown, under
stands whereof he speaks when he declares
that rotation IN office is one of the cardinal
principles OF the Democratic party in this
State A strict adherence to that principle
and practice by the party, ever since its
earliest 6AtSbSuCt, mas CuuluCSu " ltIc SUI
cess of the party more than the advocacy
and practice of any other one of the prin
ciples and with Billy Grubber'" and
thousands of other Democrats i'll the State |
hope the party will not, at the coming Sta te
Convention ignore that saving principle,
and threby condemn the teachings of our
fathers. What the practice of our fathers
has been in this State for fifty years may be
easily learned by the present voters there
of The History OF the State, far as
ates to the election of its Governor and
other State officers, will show that, from
the Inauguration of Governor McNutt
to the present time, no one except the pres
ent incumbent has never by himself or
through his friends, sought nomination
or an election TO ''third term" of the
office of Governor. Such action is unpre-
cedented in this commonwealth. suggest
that, 50 far as [ know or believe, such prac-
tice is unknown to any of the States.
Certainly the Democratic party has never
before this, committed so great a blunder
IN its political economy. But we see that
some of Governor Stones friends deny that
they are seeking for him a nomination for
Il ''thrd term What is a third term to an
office? Is not an election, and the inaugu-
ration of the person elected or appointed, d
third time TO the same Office in regular
succession, q third term to all intents and
purposes Has not Governor Stone already
Jeen twice Inaugurated into the office of
Governor of Mississippi; and should he be
nominated by the coming State Convention
md that nomI nation be followed by an
election and an Inauguration into that
ptice, will not that be third term of the
office to him? But others may be equally
Lealous-even clamorous, in urging the
nomination of Governor Stone; and NAV
De disposed to say that, although it will be
a "third term" for Governor Stone, the
interest of the people and the success of the
Democratic party demands his nomination
by the coming Convention. May not this
De great mistake? Let US see The
pffices of State are created for the benefit of
the whole people, and not for the benefit of
the few who chance To be the incumbents
ohereof But it may be said by his Jealous
friends that Governor Stone Is the Wisest and
best man in the State, and that he
has made good Governor 1T
may be true that he has made
a good Governor; but it is certainly untrue
that he Is the superior of others. None adj
lIlIIG MS SOOuutSS III Hcdu OF uedTI more tudT4
The writer. But my high appreciation off
the man is not sufficient to Justify me in
aiding to effect his nomination to a ''third
term" 1t would be impossible for me, |
with my views Of the principles and of the
lifelong practice of the Democratic party, I
to approve the nomination by the party of
any one of our great statesmen to the Office /
Of Governor for "third term
At the close of his present term Governor |
Stone will have held the office two years
longer than any one of his illustrious prede- |
cessors. | cannot believe, judging from their
previous career, that any one ofour ex-Cov- |
ernOrs would have consented to the use off
his name, in opposition to other worthy |
statesmen of the party for the nomination Of
Governor for third term Of that Office I
conclude that the untempered zeal of por-
ton of the press of the State, encouraged by |
numerous admiring friends Of the Governor /
have overlooked the great danger to the par t
ty, and the irreparable wrongs which the I
nomination, to Il third term may inf1ct Nor (
can | see how these erring Presses and mis- I
guided friends Gas believe them to bel /
can find justification to the Democratic par [
ty of the State in their struggles to effect the .
nomination of Governor Stone to a third I
term. | cannot conceive a more unjust or |
a more dangerous violation of the funda-
mental principles of the party.
a DEMOCRAT