Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-05
Shall Mr.. Cleveland Be Allowed to
Name His Successor
IF BE REFUSES 4 RECONCILIATION?
Anti-Thi'd Temen Regret Specu-
lation on This Subject.
NOT A JACKSONIAN ERA

A new question-and one of all the greater
interest because 1t grows out of the third
term talk-is engaging the attention Of some
of the democratic leaders: II Mr.. Cleveland
should refuse, in obedience to well-establish-
ed precedent, to stand for denomination
next year, how would bis personal favor II
strongly suspected. or demonstrated In any
way, affect the fortunes Of the democratic
presidential aspirant enjoying 1T Would it
help such aspirants to the nomination. and
would nomination 80 secured prove a
strong one before the peoplef
Against the Third Term.
There is really more talk on this subject
than on the subject of a third term The
democracy as party is committed against
third term. 1t prepared itself thoroughly
for that issue In 1880. and. as has since been
held by its most experienced managers, only
missed great national victory that year
by the refusal Of the republicans to venture
into the field with Gen. Grant In the lead
again. But there is a most eminent prece-
dent for the selection of his successor in
party leadership by democratic President,
and II was made by the very man with
whose name Mr.. Cieveland's name Is fire.
Quently linked by his admirers, and, Il is
said, much to his own qualification, An
drew Jackson, after two terms in the White
House. practically named his successor,
both in party leadership and in Office viii
Mr.. Cleveland's influence with his party
next year be as great as Jackson's was in
the old days? And, II so, will the issues
and attending circumstances permit the ex-
ercise of that influence In the Jacksonlan
way?
No Race by Proxy.
Some of the views expressed are decided
ly to the point. The men who oppose a
third term insist that Mr.. Cleveland's hand
should not be seen in next years work at
all. They hold that the very principle
that will bar him from making the run
himself will, or should. bar him from at
tempting to make the race by proxy He
will be barred himself purely because of
ore feeling. On the score of experience
and party confidence he would be in every
way eligible-would. in fact. hold the "age''
over the whole table But the American
idea it is insisted, is that no man should
be permitted to remain too long in the
White House. The Office of President IL
one of vast opportunities The nan hold
ing it necessarily gathers to himself vast
power, and power, even under a free gov
ernment. is full of temptations. Hence
the unwritten law that this power shall
be frequently redistributed. But as the
anti-thrd termers inquire, would redistrf-
button fellow IL practically no charge at
the top should take place? One swallow
no more makes summer, they assert
tnaH WoUid a mere change IN tne occupant
of the White House remove the real dam
gers to be apprehended from third term.
The new man should be his own man. He
should be an individual in the highest and
strongest sense of the word. He should
have his own policies and his own friends,
and should inherit nothing from his prede-
oessor but an example to obey the Consti-
tuition.
Hurtful All Around.
The anti-third timers, therefore. depIore
such speculation as they see now and then
in the Newspapers representing first this
man ana then that man rs likely to be Mr..
Cleveland's choice for the democratic lead
ership next year. The effort, they believe.
is hurtful all round 20 the leaders tamed,
to Mr. Cleveland and to the party. With
no disrespect whatever to the Jacksonian
era, they insist that this is very different
era The party leaders are all well Snown-
The party, they insist, must make its own
choice, aud in its own way. Mr.. Cleve-
land has had his day. and will retire on
his record. His successor, IL a democrat,
will enter upon a separate accountability
There should be no string attached to him.
nor room for any kind of personal reminder
Of dependency.
Cleveland Not Responsible.
The remarks OF this tenor are in TO case
directed at Mr., Cleveland. He is not held
responsible for any of the speculation COM
planned of. He is believed TO have been as
mute on that topic as on the one OF a third
term for himself. But the discretion and
the wisdom of some men very close 20 him
are not now rated as high as they once