Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-14
Significant Agitation.

While Grover Cleveland could not pub
licly say that he considered the recent
elections as conclusive proof that the peo-
pie turned down Brice, German and
Hill because they were his enemies and
because they prevented him from carrying
out his avowed purpose concerning the
tariff, there really is not any doubt but
that is what he thinks. His mouth
pieces have given utterance to that
opinion and their chiefs serene egotism is
too overpowering and iutolerant to long
leave those, who sit in the seats of the
faithful within the circle of its circum-
ambient charm, in doubt as to it's mean
ing. There are, moreover other and
more significant signs that Cleveland as
impossibility.
The New York Herald attempts to
ridcule what it is pleased TO style "the
third term spectre, and declares that there
is no comparison to be drawn between the
attempt to give Gen. Grant "a third term
and possible attempt to give Grover
Cleveland one. Cleveland, the Herald
argues, is not military man and in his
having third term there is no danger of
Caesarism. There must be other than
mere editorial opinion in this claim. 1t
is too absurd to have had logical birth in
the brains of the able editors of the New
York Herald. If Grover Cleveland is a
necessity to the Democratic party and to
the country as President for third term
he is the biggest man that ever came to
public notice in this country since its
birth He is, like all presidents, COM
mander in chief of the army of the
Republic. He is in a position to arrogate
to himself as much menacing authority
as could military man and unless his
character has been misjudged he has more
Of disposition to do so than had Gen.
Grant or any other conspicuous military
genius of this country. He is known to
be in sympathy with the influences which
dominate the trusts and an oligarchy of
wealth is far more threatening in the
United States than is militarsm. Neither
would he be responsive to popular will.
1t Is a well known fact to be considered
when we recall his Hawaiian policy, his
advocacy of state bank currency and not
few other pernicious theories, that
Grover Cleveland doesn't change his
mind, that no information is allowed to
penetrate the dense egotism with which
he has enveloped himself. There is,
though, one exception to this. He
thought when he first became candidate
that one term was all that should be
given to any man. He has changed his
mind to the extent that he now believes
there is one man in the world who should
have three terms and that man is Grover
Cleveland.
But this talk on the part of the Herald
about Caesarism is begging the question.
The dangerous thing about this third
term agitation is the precedent that
might be established. Now regarding this
precedent it is very significant at this
time that the New York World picks up
and adopts Senator Whites untenable and
silly theory, that because another President
has interviewed to prevent three successive
terms, all the arguments against Mr..
Cleveland being again candidate are not
| applicable. This is even more absurd
than the theory advanced by the Herald
1t puts the Democratic party in most
comical light, for it admits the possibility
of any man remaining for sixteen years
presidential necessity to the Democratic
party.
OF course there is little danger in all
this talk. We cannot believe that Grover
Cleveland will again be the candidate of
his party although it is pretty certain he
would like to be. If he is and IL he shows
any great strength in seeking it. there
lies the danger the danger of encouraging
similar efforts in the future. But If he is
nominated we firmly believe that not
only his own record and the record of his
party. but also the audacity of third
termism would be rebuked by maioritv
SO overwhelming as to discourage all like
attempts for generations to come and In
sound the knell of the Democratic party,