The Wilmingtonian., 1888-02-25
1SS4--1SSS.

| The President of the United States, in
accepting the nomination to that office from
the Democratic party in 1884, portrayed in
strong words the evils and dangers which
attend the election of President for a
second term. There can be no doubt that
mis- opinions on this subject are correct.
Tue public virtue of the country would
| probably be gamer if the Constitution
confined the service of a President to one
term. An occupant of the Presidential
office, with all his power and patronage,
has an unjust advantage over all other COM
petltors ia his party. 1t is true that If he
we're cOnfiued to one term, he would then en-
deaver to name his successor. Blu the temp
laJion wauld not be 80 strong to abuse his
power as it would be il he himself were to bt
the beneficiary.
NOBODY seems to have understood this
more clearly than Grover Cleveland did
three years and half ago. Tne reasons
why a President of the United States should
not be reelected have not often been stated
so forcibly as they have been by him. How
Mr.. Cleveland iees on this subject at the
present time the public has nor been inform
ed. There is general belief, however, that
that either be has changed his opiniun on
this particular point or that he does not
think it should apply to him. 1t is certain
that large number ofhis friends who are
now helping to prop mp the Constitution at
the public expense are doing all that they
can 90 convince their fellow-citizens that the
reelection of the President is indispensable
to the welfare Of the country.
AS Mr.. Cleveland says, "the temptation to
retain the place once gained" is great one.
If he should remain in the field as a candi-
date for reelection he will have virtually
confessed that the temptation has been too
much for him. ne will net be able to ex-
cuse his ambition by declaring that the will
OF his party was too much for him to over
come. He has already supplied the country
with an answer to that excuse. In his letter
of acceptance he says that the worst danger
is "the availability patty finds in an in
cumbent whom horde of of1ice-holderS
with a zeal born of benefits and fOstered by
the hope of iavors yet to come stand ready
to aid with money and trained political SER
vice." How we'll Mr.. Cleveland pictured in
1884 the situation of affairs in 1883!
II Mr.. Cleveland was sincere when he
wrote the letter he must decline renomi
nation il he does not d, me renomina-
tion then he was insinccre. The ''horde of
officp-holders" are everywhere shouting for
Cleveland because their own power depends
upon his. All over the country they are
preparing with their 'mOney and trained
political service" to set up conventions aud
secure delegates IN his favor. Any one who
daips to- intimate that Governor Hui or some
other Democrat is entitled 10 some consid-
GRAFTON as a Presidential aspirant, is instaut-
ly marked out as an euemy to be punished.
Allt"ese things are gong gu under the
Presidential eye without rebnke or restraint.
II the President has duy purpose TO acI in
accordance with the spirit of h's letter Of
1884, he has not YET signtied hts intention.
Yet, if he shOnl1 ACCEPT another nominations,
it wil be difficult to understand, afC ,r what
he has written, why we must rrga.d him Ms
a man superior TO his party, aud without
that vulgar appetite for uiii which he has
81 uftrn plui ssed to Look nj on with horror.
letter from President Cleveland re-
affirming the sentiments OF his letter Of
acceptance is severely IN order at this date.