Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-21
POLITICS AND THE PRESIDENCY.
The Views of an Experienced Observer on
the National Situation.
MMnINarox, February l6, 1892.

WAsHNGToN, February 16, 1892.
IT, he Editor Of ne DispT'ct'
In the early history OF the Government
IL was the practice TO elect President to
a second term. Washington. jefferson,
Madison, and Monroe were all reelected
and held the Office for eight years. The
two Adamses who embodied the selfish
ness, arrogance. and arbitrary ideas of the
Adams family were rightly denied this
great honor. Since the time OF the younger
Adams the drift of opinion has been en-
tirely TO one term for President. There
have been only two or three exceptions
one General Jackson, the great hero OF
New Orleans. who bad defeated the Bri-
tish and saved the Louisiana purchase and
who had also the highest qualities OF civil
leadership; the second, Abraham Lincoln,
whose reelection in 1864 was natural
result OF the war passion and fury against
the South. So strong mas been this senti-
ment that Henry Clay proposed, with the
full appreciation of his great party, 10
irnit the presidency 20 a single term. Mr..
Cleveland. in public address about the
time he was elected, declared for the same
policy. Ii is very doubtful If any OF us
shall live TO sec another President re-
elected.
ONE INvARIABLE LAW
Rut there has boon ono invariable law in
reference 10 the choice of President. No
one who ever held the Office OF President
and had been tried then and was defeated
for has reelection has ever been again re-
nominated by his party. The elder Adams
WAS President, was defeated for second
term. and that was the end of him. 1t was
the same with his SOB, John Quincy Adams;
In 1910 Martin Van Buren,, who had filled
the Office Of President for four years. ran
again as his party's choice. Hewas beaten
bv Harrison, but not content with this
verdict. he set himself TO work 10 obtain
the Democratic nomination IN 1874. a
proud man would nos have done this. A
wise man would have stood on his record
and trusted 20 history to vlndicate hun.
The Democratic party at that time was
full OF great inteliec's and great leaders.
but Mr.. Van Buren, allowed his se,tsaness
10 control him aud he insisted that ne
alone who had shown such lack OF popu-
larity should DO selected to make the race
for fs4s. There were many men who hsl
an axe TO grind 10y his denomination the ola
bread -and-bntter brigade. OF course, pre-
ferred hlm 10 all others, and there were
also honest. deluded ncn III Virginia and
eyeryWhere who insisted on giving him
another chance TO wreck the party. IL Is
onIte possible that be would have obtain
"a the nomination once again, but his lack
OF healthy, popular ,nstinets led him 10 es-
pouse the wrong side OF tho Texas annexa,
tion question. and his opponents after hard
struggle at Baltimore succeeded In putting
him aside. don't suppose that any one
would now sfhrm that Dir. Van Buren,
could have been reelected IN lsi4 over Mr.
Clay
name Is coupled with great economic re-
forms, the annexation Of Texss, the Mexi-
can war, and the acquisition Of Cslifornis
bnt he was not renominated- President
Fillmore gave great Satisfaction 70 the
Whigs, bat he WAS not renominssoo; ans
same Inay be said OF Pierce and bncnsnan.
| The Rssjhbliosns rs-elsctsd Grant, bat be
esnbodisd 10 the northern mind thesF ne
| cess 10 great civil war. They yeiugeo se
1T hin make ~ yaee 8os tR ~