The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-20
THE THIRD TERM Project.

Pioneer Press.
a performance scarcely ever surpassed
in audacity is the declaration of Senator
Gray in favor Of the re-election of Presi-
dent Cleveland As the most submissive
of all the Cuckoo tribe, Mr.. Gray was
obviously the most fit person-as per-
haps nc was the only Democrat of prom
inence who would consent-to affront
American opinions by declaring that Mr..
C.eve,and's services were so illustrious
tLat he ought to have the honor which
had been given to Washington or to
Grant. Washington refused q third cleo
ton for patriotic and most honorable
reasoDs, which, in spite of Senator Gray's
sophlstry, hold good still. Grant was
stoutly supported by a body of friends,
but It docs not appear that ne personally
sought or consented to accept the ques-
tionab.e honor For most questionable
honor 1t would always be If a president
having his party by the throat through
his ofEiclcl mercenaries, should eXtort
from 1t a nomination in violation of all
pracedents and instincts.
Now that this thing has been formally
proposed, and by a man known to echo
the presidents wishes, as If devoid of a
mind of his own 1t might be the best
to have the experiment tried to the end.
Let US have president nominated for a
third term and see where he will come
out. Senator Gray sets up this pitifully
frivolous claim that American tradition
for'bids only three consecutive terms for
the same man, and ne claims that the
Cleveland VINO was president first be-
came q private citizen, and was washed
clean so to speak, of all restrictions as
to reelection when he was defeated in
1855. He has again been elected for the
first time like any other citizen and is
entitled to reelection if his services merit
that confidence, as any other president
might be elected for a second continuous
term. Mr.. Gray had some reputation
as a lawyer, but will certainly lose most
of his reputation for common sense by
advancing an argument so shallow and
pettifogging in character.
He is false 10 history in saying that
the principal objection in Wlshngton's
case sprlng from the doubt whether the
new repjub'c would stay a republic. On
the contrary, President Washington him
self set forta in the clcarest terms the
other and permanent objection, that a
possessor of the appointing power, hold
ing that high place for eight years, would
be apt to control enough political in
nuence to distort and unnaturally sway
the political action of the people. There
would come to be, he wisely foresaw,
a species of dictatorship within and be-
hind the forms of self-governm ent SO
that the trained and hired officials, hold
ing their offices at the Pleasure of the
president might continue for an indefinite
period, for a fourth or fifth, as well
as Il third term, to re-elect the man to
whom they owed their positions. This
sort of thing President Washington right
fully judged, was not only contrary to
American instincts, but distinctly hostile
to the best interests of the Republic. It
tended to establish, not monarchy, not
any formal change OF the form of gov
csnment. but behind the republican form
a practical despotism in the hands of
one man, continued and maintained
through the persons holding Office at his
will.
1t is exactly this sort of thing watch
the people viii resent il it is attempted
in behlf of President Cleveland or any
body else. Perhaps it would be the best
thing possible to have the Democratic
party nominate Mr. Cleveland in order
to see how far he would fall behind its
nltura' strength, being a candidate for
rejection under such circumstances. 1t
must be presumed, in the light of the
atest elections, that any nomination BY
the Democratic party is likely to enl in
defeat Mr.. Cleveland might as we!, be
beaten as anybody else. Nevertheless,
the test would help to show how far tho
American people are willing TO set aside
all traditions and Instincts inherited from
the earlier days of the republic, in obedi-
ence TO the desire of office holders to re-
elect the man from whom they ho,d
their lucrative positions And then IL
might be weE, moreover, to get definitely
tested by a popular decision the ques-
zion wh2ther the policy of Mr.. Cleveland
Us continuously Urged is that which the
peop.e resent and have condemned at the
polls, or only the policy which members
Of his party in congress have attempted
to carry out. In many ways the lesson
would be Instructive, and perhaps the
Democrats may consent to serve the
country by giving It chance to show
Just what 1t thinks, first of President
Cleveland, and second of third term.