The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-16
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
on THE THIRD TERM.

w iHf THIRD IEhM.
In 1875. when the friends OF General
Grant were setting thei: triggers to make
him President a third tine, Represen-
tative Springer OF Illinois, Introduced the
following resolution into tire House Of
Representatives. and ii was passed by a
vote of 2S3 yeas to Is nays The resolI.
ton reads as follows:
Resolved That in the opinion of this
House. the precedent established by
ashinQtcn and other Presidents OF tie
United states in retiring from the p:esi-
Dental Office after their second term hgy
become, by universal concurrence. = part
of our republican system or government.
and that any departure from this time
honored custom would be unwise. uu-
patriotic, and fraught with peril to our
free institutions.
The Washington Post has been sound
ing members of the present Congress
upon their views on this subject. 1t has
requested them TO state how they would
vote if a similar resolution should be
introduced into the incoming Congress,
and 1t has responses from over one hum
dred representatives, and their responses
show that a similar resolution would
pass the present House by an overwhelm-
ing majority. And this curious fact is
developed: Every vote against the reso-
luton of 1870 was cast by Republican,
and almost all the congressman who have
here declared that they would not vote
against the third-term idea are Republi-
cans. This is a very CURIOUS fact. We
quote from the Post some of the letters
of congressman who would not oppose
the third-term idea. General Grosvenor,
Of Ohio, wrote as follows
ATHENS. OHIO.
General Washington was an experiment
tai President of an experimental repub-
lie, and denounced as a probable usurper
by his enemies, ana he wrote and spoke
as he did on the subject of a third term.
A hundred and odd years Of national ex-
istence without any attempt on the part
OF any one 10 subyert the liberties of
the people Of this country have lessened
the Importance OF the suggestion of Cen
eral Washington. although doubtless his
advice is conclusively valuable at this
time.
If the resolution is correct. where ii
SAYS that opposition TO a third term OF
the President has become. by universal
concurrence, a part of our republican
system Of government ! submit that 1t
is scarcely necessary to Ldss a resolu-
ton affirming that settled part of our
government.
The adoption OF resolution like this
in December next would mean, ana
would be understood TO mean, an attack
upon Mr. Cleveland. and as the question
of Mr.. Cleveland's future candidacy for
the presidency is ali within the Demo
cratic party as family affair I would
not vote for tho resolution.
c. ii. GROsvENOR.
thus:
MORRISNlIIE. VT,
In response to the inclosed inquiry, |
In 4hl 10
see why an iron-clad rule should be made
to exclude President from election TO
third term. We never apply such a rule
in other official elections nor In business
If the best man in the country s. want
cd for President. the people should elect
him whether they have previously had
the benefit Of his service or not ard es-
pecially is this true If he has twice before
demonstrated his superior fitness tor the
position. However, there is little danger
on this score. because the ambition of
other candidates Will always Kill off any
third-term candidate il either political
.,crty.
As a Republican. l am heartily in favor
of the candidacy Of President Cleveland
for a third term, and would vote for
nothing that was calculated TO dissuade
the Democrats from making him thei.
candidate in 1896.
II. HENRY POWERS.
This idea runs through the letters OF all
the Republicans who favor a third term
They want the Democrats to nominate
Mr. Cleveland. evidently thinking him
the weakest man the Democrats coulc put
up. They plainly think he would be
Handicapped by the third-term idea. The
Post then gives the following list Of men,
bers who are opposed 10 the third-term
idea, and who would vote for such a reso-
luton as that introduced by Mr. Springer:
Adams. Pennsylvania; Apsley, Massa
chusetts: Atwood. Massachusetts; Baker.
New Hampshire; Baker POp), Kansas:
Bartlett pem). Georgia Bell PopD. Col
orado; Bingham, Pennsylvania; Boatner
DemD Louisiana; Bowers. California;
Brumm. Isnnsylvania: Buck OemD.
louisiana. Burton, Missouri: Clardv
Dem) Kentucky; Clark. Iowa: Cockrell
DEM. Texas; Coddng, Pennsylvania;
Colson. Kentucky; Cooke, Illinois, Dai-
zcl Pennsylvania: Daniels. New YORK.:
Danford. Ohio: Dayton. West Virginia:
Dearmond Oem). Missouri; Dinsmore
Oem). Arkansas Dockery !DemD. Mis-
sour; Dolliyer. Iowa; Doolittlc Wis
consn: Eddy. Minnesota, Ellis. Oregon:
Fenton. Ohio; Fisher. New York: Fowler
New Jersey; Gamble South Dakota: Glib
son, Tennessee; GriswoId. Pennsylvania;
Hager. Iowa; Hanley. Indiana; Harmer.
Pennsylvania; Hendrick Dem). Ken.
lucky: Hicks, Pennsylvania: Howe New
York Johnson. California; KEN lPop).
sas: Leonard. Pennsylyania: Livingston
Tem), Georgia: McClearv Minnesota:
Mch:wan, New Jersey; McRae Dem).
Arkansas; Mahany.. New York: Meredith
Michigan: Money Oem). Mississippi;
Morse, Massachusetts; Nell DEM, Ar
kansas; Northway. Ohio; Odell. New
York; otey CDcm.l, Virginia: Often, Wis
New Jersey: Prince. Illinois: Richardson
DEM, Tennessee; Robinson, Pennsylya-