The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-04-28
SECOND TERM TALK.
why Mr. Cleveland Could and would Not
Refuse q denomination.


Mr.. Cleveland does not believe in
second terms. He does believe, how
ever, in unhesitating submission to the
constitutional will Of the majority after
it has been declared in forms pre-
scribcd in the constitution or under 1t
and not opposingi it. This latter belief
he holds in common with all Demo-
Gratis. Few Democrats are ready to
adopt his views against second terms
They reason that if Washington, JEFF
ferson. Madison and jackson served
second terms. Mr.. Cleveland, in view
of such precedent, can afford to sacri-
flee his private opinion to the constitu-
tional will of the majority.
There Is no issue involved. Before
there can be an issue it must be created
by discussion, and the people have not
been able to see that their National in
terests would be furthered or their pri-
vato rights made more secure by re-
stricting Presidents to one term in
office. Perhaps If an issue were made
and fully discussed, the people in u de-
cade or so might come TO hold the same
opinion the President holds now. If
they did, they would cause to be in
| troduced constitutional amendment,
which, submitted to the Legislatures
and adopted, would declare in con-
sttutonal form the constitutional
will. Until they have done so Mr..
Cleveland's opinion is a private
opinion, not binding on him in his
public duties us President and
not binding him as Demo-
crat against the action of his party in
convention. If such q constitutional
amendment were proposed for adop'
ton there would be ample room fol
argument against it. While it woult
be in accord with the Jacksonian rule
of rotation in Office, it would be al
extreme application of it. An honest,
intelligent President is worth mucl
more to the people at the begin ming O
his second term than of his first. HI
has had four years of education. and a
the people have paid for this education
at tho rate of $4,000 a year, the.
have q right to the benefit of it, if the,
want it. If Mr.. Cleveland will lool
back over the four years of his term h
will be able to see that he has Learned
no little since he took the oath of Office
He was good President in 1885, bu
he was better one in 1888, and he will
be still better in 1890. Knowing NOR
now than he did in 1884. he ought t,
be able to see that he was mistakel
in believing that the people are not t
be trusted in the matter OF secon,
terms. 1t is true he did not take thi
view of it exactly. He feared that if
precedent were not made against sec
ond terms ambitious men in otfic
might use the public patronage to de
feat the popular will; but the time ha
not come when this can be done. Tht
President can not even control Ma
tional convention of his own part
against the will of his party majority
MIR. Arthur, who was as good politi
clan as ever went from New York t.
Washington, tried it with all the powe
of the patronage, and made sigma
failure 1t is safe yet to trust th
American people. When people be
comes untrustworthy, precedents-
even precedents established in the cor
titution--become valueless. We hav
seen recently how little constitutions
restrictions in this matter availed i
Mexico.
Mr.. Cleveland is not candidate fo
denomination, but when the st. Loui
convention renominates him he wi
have no escape from being his part
candidate for reelection. st. Lou
Republican.