The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-15
GRANT AND THE THIRD TERM.
Editor COwles Tells the Story of the Part He
Took in Inducing the General to Decline.


account OF his interview with President Grant
in 1875, in which he convinced him of the ne
cessity of his writing the letter he published de-
clining to run for a third term in 1876, Mr..
Cowles gave me the following interesting state
ment which gives the reason which prompted
President Grant to refrain, as long as he did,
from withdrawing his name as a candidate at
that time, while he was still in the presidential
Office:
You will remember" said Mr.. Cowles, ''that
IN the winter of 1915 the New York Herald III
its usual exaggerated style. started the cry OF
C9sarlsm and imperialism as the result OF elec1-
ing President for third term. Ihat TeckleoS
sheet went SO far as to make the aosurd oIaIe
ment that there would be imminent danger IL
President Grant was elected for the third time,
he would use his power to initiate the Two Napo-
Icons and declare himself Emperor 1t harped
upon this ridiculous theory for weeks and
months. The Democratic papers, which evident
" had a wholesome fear that the great popularity
of the President would result IN his being noml
mated and elected a third time, adopted the
sentiment of the Herald, and soon the whole
land was filled with the cry of C;esarism and
imperialism. The Republican papers became
alarmed for fear that Grant might possibly be
renomnated and defeated On account of the
foreign element believing that foolish cry, and
they came out IN opposition to third term
nomination The Pennsylvania Republican
convention met ana adopted Its platform a
decided anti-third term resolution.
1.-THE Cleveland Leader was about the only
prominent Republican paper that did not OPP
pose third term although it thought it would
be unwise to try the experiment. A pressure
was brought to bear upon me mfr CowleS) to
come out against third term but declined to
do on account Of the great admiration and
friendly feeling had for President Grant. Still,
/ saw very plainly, now that Pennsylvania had
spoken out against a third term. that the Ohio
fJnp imi nlptiny iy,o
few days from that time, and then all the other
State conventions would follow and do likewise
by inserting an anti-thrd term plank in their
platforms, which would make the denomination
of the President impossible, thus placing him in
the disagreeable position Of a defeated candi-
date.
'It should be understood that the objection
the majority of the Republicans had to the re-
nomination Of President Grant for a third term,
before the expiration of his second term,
when he had the oficehodng machinery
III his hands, with which he might
control the nominating convention, did not exist
when he was candidate before the Chicago
convention in 1880. My attachment to General
Grant and desire to save him from notifying
defeat, prompted me to GO to WASHINGTON and
influence him to withdraw from the field Be-
fore going teegraphed him asking him to set
time when could have private interview, and
he replied the following Saturday (May 3O) at
o'clock. on his return from the soldier memorial
service at Arlington.
II arrived at Washington the morning Of that
Saturday and called Secretary Deano, and
stated to him the object of my visit. He agreed
with me thoroughly that the President ought
not TO remain in the field a candidate while
still holding his Office but said he, we mem
bers Of the Cabinet are all of the same opinion
but can do nothing with him. for he refuses to
say whether he will will not be candidate.
If the New York Herald and the Democratic
press had not set up the cry of Imperialism,
have no doubt the President would have had the
vim how mud oY12 fIot
he was not O candidate But he will not have it
appear that he was forced by the Herald and all
the barking ours that have taken up its cry TO
withdraw, and his obstinate disposition is in the
way of our being able to do anything with him.
This said Mr.. Cowles did not discourage
me. and called at the White House at the ap-
pointed time and found the President alone in
the Cabinet room. He gave me most kindly
welcome and one of his inevitable cigars. After
preliminary conversation, stated the object
of my mission, and will quote the language l
used as nearly as my memory will allow, for the
purpose of giving the line of arguments l used:
"l Will now, with your PERMISSION Mr.. PreSi-
dent, state the object of my visit. Before pro-
ceeding l will say that feel that have right,
as your friend, to breach the subject matter to
you, because, Of all the prominent papers in the
country, the Cleveland Leader, as you are
aware. is the only one that has not come out
against a third term. have refused to oppose
third term because of the great respect and
feeling of friendship l have for you. Having
shown my loyalty TO you. feel that you will
rot hesitate to accord to me the privileges Of
being perfectly candid in treating on the sub
iect Of your running for Il third term. One
can not be true friend who does not
speak with candor. AS you are undoubt-
eddy aware, the Pennsylvania convention
has inserted an anti-thi I'd term plank
in its platform. Our convention meets in few
days, and it will do likewise, and the result will
be that all the other State conventions will fol-
low like drove of sheep and pass anti-third-
fnrp rpSOlutiOOS n |
most respectfully submit, can you afford to have
all these resolutions pass apparently rejecting
you! Would it be polite for you to allow your
friends to keep your Eame before the people as
candidatel You have never yet been defeated,
and would it be wise for you to continue in your
present position, which can only end in certain
defeat in the National convention? Excuse my
plainness, Mr. President, but my anxiety on
your account makes me so. Now, know you
have not made single move looking to a renom-
ination, but your enthusiastic friends have
brought you out as candidate, and 1t is under
stood that you such. L am aware of the
motive which prompts you not to withdraw,
which is that you dislike to have it appear that
you are moved by the absurd cry started
by the New York Herald of Cesarism
and Imperialism, and | confess that
sympathize with you in that feeling and no
right minded man can blame you for being
dignifcdly silent; but nevertheless, the fact eX-
lists that that foolish cry has had its effect on the
foreign element i'll our own party and for you to
remain apparently IN the held would involve you
in certain defeat and know OF no way by which
you could avoid such unpleasant contingency
except by writing letter stating that you never
by any act of your owe put yourself forward as
candidate and that you are not candidate for
denomination Such course is the only one
left for you to pursue il order to enable you to
continue IN your present position of having
never been defeated either on the battle field or
in civil life Now, Mr. President, if have been
too plain in my remarks, please lay it to my head
and net to my heart"
The President replied that he was very glad
that had called on him, and expressed my
views so candidly and that he appreciated the
friendship that prompted me to do SO. Il have
not" he continued 'by any act of mine, as you
have correctly stated it. placed myself before
the peoIse as candidate for denomination
What has been done was done spontaneously
by my friends. But what appeared to