The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-30
THE THIRD TERM QUESTION.

The third term bugaboo is still scar
ing some timid people in these United
States. Cleveland looms up before the
public as a presidential possibility and
causes a great deal of violent agita-
ton. There are arguments pro and
con in relation to the truth of the
matter apart from the personality Of
the man, and there are encomiums
and denunciations of the individual
both as man and as President.
We regard the entire fer1nent as un-
necessary. because we do not believe
Grover Cleveland will suffer his name
to be presented as presidential candi-
date in 1896. As to the principle in
volved in the third term contention,
we think it is greatly distorted.
Should Cleveland be once more selec-
ted for the suffrages of the people, it
would not be a third term proposition
in the full sense of the phrase. 1t is
usually understood to mean three con-
secutive terms. In this case it would
be a nomination for q. second consecu-
tive term. But in the popular mind it
term nomination.
On what ground is the objection
founded which many people regard as
a fixed obstacle to a third term in the
presidency? It is mainly the idea that
the possibility of third term would
lead to Caesarism. That might have
some FEASIBILITY in the case of a mill
tary and ambitious man. In this case
it does not apply. There is no law
regulating the matter as some I'M
Informed people have been led to sup
| pose.
Why should not the nation act on
the same rational principle which
guides a business institution wisely
| conducted? A competent officer, be he
president or subordinate who is found
to be honest, capable, devoted to the
interests of the institution and in
creasingly qualified for the post by in
creasing experience, is retained as long
as he can serve the concern to advan-
tage. The power to remove, or at any
rate to decline to re-elect, remains
with the company.
If the idea is right that it is not safe
or proper to re-elect a, President of the
United States for several terms, the
incumbency ought logically to be lin
| tied to one term. If a President may
! have two successive terms, why not
three or four?
There is. however a tacit under.
standing with the majority of the peo-
pie that no man shall be elected to a
third term for the presidency. Whether
! that is reasonable or not does not
count for much in the result. Call ii
prejudice, if you will, it exists, and is
| a power IN the determine ton of the
| matter, and that is likely to prevail
| in the present instance and for some
| time in the future.
In amy event The Herald does not
favor the reelection of Grover Cleve.
land That is not ON account of the
objections urged by some Republicans
but chiefly because of his financia
policy. His reelection would NEAR
the further postponement of the silver
| question, and the continuation of tbs
| g0lQ pOiIcy WHICH he lIln6rlteu from hlE
Republican predecessors and which sc
strongly recommends him to Republic
can favor.
If it was simply a choice between
Cleveland and a Republican goldbug
Democrats might possibly take hin
| in preference. But we do not so re.
gard the situation. If the silver Demo
Gratis of the country see to it that only
silver Democrats are sent to the
Democratic national convention O.
1896, in districts where that is possible
| a, silver candidate can be nominated
and if he is a capable and popular mar
withal, he can be elected. In that lie.
the only hope for silver for many
years to come.
The prejudice against a third tern
will work forcibly against Grove,
Cleveland's denomination, and thi:
with the disfavor into which he has
fallen because of his Republican finan
cial proclivities will, we believe, rerdec
impossible the result which fanatic
Clevelanders are figuring to obtain.