The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-14


dent desires a reelection. and while II Is
extremely probable that the unusual cares
and worries Of the last three years have
disslpated any hopes or thoughts he may
have had of remaining in ofhce. there are,
nevertheless. many people who think no
better Democratic candidate can be found
and who believe not only that Mr.. CLeve-
land would accept the honor OF re-
nomination, but Ia actually anxious to Sc
cure It
No doubt nearly all the reports and
rumors as to Mr.. Cleveland's attitude or
inclinations on the question OF third term
are the product OF fruitful imaginations.
and therefore utterly unreliable. 1t is
natural that those who have prospered
through the favor of the president should
not be ayerse to his remaining In office.
and they are actuated partly by loyalty
to their chief and. as is natural. perhaps.
mora especially by selfish hopes for the
future. SO far as the president himself is
concerned there Is nothing TO show that
he has recently given utterance to any
thing which would indicate in the slight
est degree that he thinks OF allowing his
name to be mentioned and his very decided
opposition to the reelection OF presidents.
as expressed in 1885. would warrant the be-
lief that any talk now by his friends Of a
denomination is without his authority or
approval.
Whatever afr. Cleveland's wishes or In
ha 10 " rfafy ba
his selection again as a presidential can
didate is improbable and the possibility OF
1t hardly worth discussion. The questions
as to the success OF his present admins
tration. his popularity or unpopularity
or his availability as a candidate, are
insignificant compared with the greater
question as TO whether the unwritten
law Is to be repealed which says that
a president shall be elected but twice.
Democratic traditions are against third
terms and It would hardly seem that
a crisis in our national affairs has arisen
which calls for the denomination of Mr..
Cleveland as public necessity.
From the 18th of September, 1926, when
George Washington in his farewell adj
dress to the people of the United States
declined being considered among the
number of those out of whom the choice
is TO be made precedent has been es-
tablished which In practice has had the
force of a constitutional provision. Wash
ington had twice received the unanimous
vote OF the electoral college and. without
doubt. would have been chosen for the
third time had he permitted II. But de-
termination 20 erect barrier beyond
which the service OF no executive should
extend impelled him 20 refuse 1t and his
example has been decisive in the case OF
Jefferson, Monroe, Jackson and Grant, the
only presidents in connection with whom
third term has ever been seriously con-
sidored
One OF the objections Jefferson always
had to the constitution was that ii made a
president eligible for reelection. He
feared dictatorship or a life executive. and
three months after the adjournment OF the
convention which framed the constitution
wrote from Paris: Reason and expert
ence tell us that the first magistrate viii
elected. He IS then an officer for life'
But Jefferson's fears were exaggerated.
At any rate his following washington's
example in resolutely declining a third
term in 1903 established the practice which
destroyed whatever peril there might be
in the constitutions silence as to the num-
Der OF terms a president may be elected.
Although JeffSrson's practices time and
time again were man.festly al variance
With his professions. on the question or ac-
ceptng a third term he was positive and
consistent. Many legislatures including
that OF Massachusetts. a state which had
suffered severely from his embargo acts.
passed resolutions In isos urging him to
continue in once. but his decision was
firm and final.
BY the time the presidency reached
Monroe the barrier against a third term
had been soldly erected. He was a popu-
lar president. his last term covering the
EZRA OF good feeling" and bad he desired
a third nomination. could probably have
secured II. especially as Adams. Cyaw-
ford. Calhoun. Clay. Jackson and De Wit
Clinton we're aG engaged in a bitter strug-
gle FOR the succession. Possibly Monroe
could not have been reelected. as the
people were about tired OF the Virginia
dynasty" At any rate he declined TO run.
whatever may have been his motive and
a tAlrt term became more than ever an
inposslbeity.
Ne pres dent. not even Jefferson. had
ever had so strong a hold on the masses
% BIS party az the end OF his second term
"a Jackson II Is not probable that his
nEht with the United States bank or his
hstter QBarrels With Calhoun and Craw-
ford could have prevented his tAlrd nomi-
nation had - set about 20 get one. In
1Ss, however. Jackson was an old man.
with health FAR from good. and these did
more than az his foes 20 keep him out OF
: third term. Besides. Washington ard
jefferson had never welded more power
tasn re. and - retired only 70 name hls
s1cct ssor. Van BGrsn. Had he been q
younger man. possibly he might lave
sought q second reelection. As Il was.
rs reign di4 uot ena vita his retirement.
Thonsh ths voloe in the government was
that 81 Van Buren from ISs TO $50. the
hand was The hau9 ~ Ia~kuo, W-1fts -