Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-10-31
The Third Term.

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The greatest political misfortune,
not provided againt in the Constitution,
which could happen to this country,
would be the successful victory of am
bition over the unwritten law forbid
ding the election of President for a
third term. The different phases of
the third-term question. arranged in
the order of hostility and danger to
our institutions. may be put thus:
The election of President for a
third term.
1.-THE nomination OF candidate
for third Presidential term.
III.-A Presidents attempt to be re-
nominated by his party for third
term.
N.-Discussion, and its attendant
uncertainty. as to a Presidents avail
ability for third term.
Beginning with Washington, no
President of the United States has ever
been elected for third term. The
statesmen of his time. all of whom had
been concerned in founding the Gov
eminent, saw even before the accumu-
lation of national presidents, that
barrier was necessary against contin-
uous elections to the Presidency.
No American President has obtained
the nomination of his party for third
term.
One President has been a candidate
before his party for nomination for
third term. The tremendous upheaval
of the civil war, and the extraordina-
ry concentration of Northern senti-
ment upon the side of one of the con-
tending parties, nearly resulted in
wiping out the Washington tradition
and in renominating Gen. Grant; but
happily Republican wisdom and patri-
otism were too strong to permit it, and
Grants name was rejected in the Chi
greatest pieces of fortune ever enjoyed
by the oft favored Republican party
that at the time this sinister problem
was presented, there was found lea
der of the splendid political ability and
intense and powerful Americanism of
James G. Blaine. Within the lines of
his own organization, Blaine then won
battle which will confer upon his
memory fame as as lasting as the
United States.
The fourth aspect of the third-term
question is before US, in the discussion
carried on as matter of necessity by
a large portion of the Democratic press,
which feels that it is time to express
its condemnation of the impudent
scheme. and by the adherents of Gro
yer Cleveland, hopefully endeavoring
to lead public opinion to the support
of his denomination. Its very exis-
tence is source of disturbance to ev-
cry political idea cherished in the Uni
tod States. which time has enabled US
to regard as secure and permanent.
The suggestion that such a revolution
is possible, and the tacit permission
granted by Mr.. Cleveland to his follow
ers to feel the popular sentiment In his
behalf, are the first steps in undermin-
ing the inherited Democratic sentiment
in favor of Presidential rotation.
This third-term uncertainty is a
clog upon every effort now in progress
on behalf of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Cleveland's reputed personal in
difference, and preparation to squelch
all third-term calculations when his
vanity has been tickled little longer,
are not satisfactory. At the first third
term whisper by follower of less
than half the distinction of Thomas F.
Bayard. our Ambassador to England,
or Of Senator Gray of Delaware. or
last but not least resigned to every
Cleveland eccentricity. Mr.. Frederic
Coudert of New York, Mr.. Cleveland
should have said promptly and with
c,earness emphasized to the point OF
absolute and final prohibition, that
not only he was not, but would not and
could not be again a candidate for
President. The time for him to speak
is still continued. The duty to speak
grows more pressing as the days pass.
~ 7. Sun.
FoR SALE-My residence and place