The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-10-03
COMMUNICATED
THE THIRD TERM" WHAT IS IT."

"4hird TerHn under his canvass as the
greatest political curiosity In the world,
ho would draw a small crowd, yet they
would pay him big 70 see so wonderful
q thing.
he could put some well-quallhed poll
tician on a store box and proclaim to the
awe stricken people, and the smaller
politicians, that now he had obtained
for the first time at great expense the
"Greut What Is IL" In polltlcs--called
the THIRD Term" He would no doubt
say that such thing as 4 man holding
any ofdco for three terms in Carbon
county, or In any other place In the
world, was never known or heard of.
OF course all men Of sense would know
Il WAS lie. Yet there are always
few who would like to be humbugged by
political Barnums. Indeed, every we'll
informed man would at once say, that
nearly, If not every township and bor-
ough IN the county has mon who have
held local offices for moro than three
terms--it is full of them everywhere in
all the counties Of Pennsylvania. Why
was itr suppose it would be fair to
say, that 1t was because they were
honest and competent men and faithful
ly served the people--that is all the
people want or care about in the admin
istratlon of public trusts, whether they
be high or low. Instances are very
plenty of men holding County, State
and National Offices for more than three
terms. Barnur's t'Third Term" show
wonld be hnazbng to deceive the ig-
apTznt.
in relation to the Office of Prothono-
tnry l wish to make a special observa-
tlon. I find upon inquiry, that in the
majority of the counties ofrthis State,
men have held that office for three
terms, aud In many cases oftensr-and
that the same practice is in vogue to-
day. There is very sound reason for
this; The Office of pTotscaotury is one
that requires speclaltalen training and
skill, and moro than that, 1t REQUIRES
experience. would wager anything
that George w. Esser, Esq, after serv-
Ing six years in that office, with great
credit to himself and entire satisfaction
to the Court, bar and people, does not
fully understand all the Intricate details
and requirements of that Gfiee. 1t Is
ono Of the few Offices that the public |
good requires should be held lby the |
same individual during good behavior. |
Indeed, that Is now the law, or at Stieast, |
The customary practice, Ia all our higher
courts.
How then can the people be benefited |
by putting al unframed and inexperi- |
&nced man in such critical Office every |
three or six yearsS / do not think thst |
the Carbon County Ear %ill disagree
with me when say that there is nGt;n
lawyer at the bar that knows a particle
too much about law, custom, 5orlr ,oS
procedure, and the proper methods ,of
Issuing the numerous writs, and gener-
ally performing the duties of the Office
OF Prothonctary, to fill the position.
II is fair to ask any man who objects
to vote for an experienced, qualified
aad honest nEu, like Mr.. Esser, for his
reason. If he has no other reason than
because 1t Is for the "Third Term
thea ne surely ought TO 80 to Barnum's
political show and see the "What is It,"
so that he could explain himself to his
friends.
l have shown you that the Third |
Term" Is not against any rule, practice
or custom of the Democratic party, in
decd that party is Ia favor Of 1t, and |
has been since the foundation Of the
government. But some opponent of
the Third Term" un2ceustomed to
reasoning and discrimination, may say
in reply, Didn't the Democrats raise 4 |
great howl" when Gen. U. S. Grant was
mentioned Tor President the third timer
Ianswer certainly the Democrats did that
very thing. and SO did that class OF Re-
publican leaders who wanted the Office |
themselves. But you must not forget |
that there is vast difference between a |
local Off ,e and that of Presi lent of the |
United States. The great cry Caised |
about "Cssarism" frightened some Re-
publicans, and Gen. Grant lost the |
nomination, No man of any intelll-
Bence IS foolish enough to believe that
Gen. Grant ever could, or ever would,
have thought of usurping his powers.
Those people, if any there be, in Car
bon county, who are opposed to Mr..
Esser for Clerk of our Courts, probably
have "CesaTism" on the brain from the
presidential campaign cry of 1880. This
Third Term" is nice little trick to urge
against a man in office, by sone other
fellow who wants it himself, to beat
him out of the nomination, but after
that It is no good and ought to be
dropped, because It is nonsense in the
highest degree. The "Third Term"
has been given to honest and able men
all over the Union ct all times and
places, and especially is this true of the
Prothonotary's office.
! heard business man use the fol-
lowing argument against the "Third
Term" to wit: NJ believe in giving
everybody a chance-two terms is long
enough for one man-if you keep one
pAn In office all the time we can't fad
out what kind Of material there is in
the party" In Justice to the business
man who said It, hasten to add that il
was made before the nomination of
Mr.. Eeser, and 1t looks neat and clean
In thefAee If you don't anAlyze 1t. But
% wonld that same business man, if he
had men In his employ who by long
years Of honest service had earned and
obtained his confidence, discharge or