Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-01
THE THIRD TERM
That Topic Engages the Attention
Of Many Politicians.
nSANALOGY With THE GRANT EPISODE
Two Explanations Of That Move
ment in 1880.
DEMAND FOR CLEVELAND

The third term topic continues to engage
the attention Of a good many politicians.
Is 1t possible for Mr.. Cleveland to succeed
when Gen. Grant failed? Would there be
less danger In choosing civilian than in
choosing a soldier President for the third
time? Is there any likeness between the
|. democratic situation now and that Of the
republicans in the spring Of 1880? Inter
rogatories are thick as blackberries.
The 1850 Episode.
The episode Of 1880 has always carried
two explanations. In one quarter 1t is
characterized as having been only a selfish
scheme of certain republican leaders to re-
possess themselves of the patronage of the
federal government Mr.. Conkling, Mr..
Cameron and Gen. Logan, SO 1t is asserted.
were tired Of their Punishment and were
moving for favor again. They had failed
to score with Mr.. Hayes, and their for
tunes at home were, in consequence, at a
low ebb. They had been strangers at the
w mite House for three years, and they
wanted to resume visiting there. If this
was to be brought about, they must make
sure OF the party's nominee. They decided
upon Gen. Grant They had thrived during
MS TWO terms as President and they would
thrive under a third term If they could Sc
cure 1t for him. Accordingly, they inaug-
urated the Grant movement, and carried
dioHS SO successfully success seemed for
a time assured to them.
A Different Explanation.
In another quarter very different expla-
nation is offered. Mr. Conkling and his
associates are credited with wise and pa
triotic motives, and the opinion is still
expressed that the def Eat of their program
entailed world of trouble on the party
The partys outlook WAS discouraginE. Mr.
La oil hxr
scratch, and as a result the demoC rats
were confident of being able to make a sue
cesSful national campaign at this election
on the Judgment of the electoral commits
sion. Democratic success, MS the republi-
cans held. would mean bankruptcy and
ruin to the country. The party then was
committed to the greenback theory as IL
now Is to the free coinage theory. With
the exception of a few eastern leaders, all
OF Its most prominent men, Thurman and
Hendricks among the number were green
hackers. Mr.. Hayes, and Mr.. Sherman as
Secretary of the Treasury, had had a hard
hsht against the imitation spirit Of Con-
gress, and the battle was by no means
won. Unless the republicans could retain
power all might be lost.
Behind the Grant Movement.
This, 1t Is claimed was the controlling
influence behind the Grant movement Mr.
Conkiins saw that the party must for its
own sake, as we'll as for the countrys
put Its best foot foremost. In his opinion
none but its strongest man could hope to
WIN, and that man he saw ia Gen. Grant
Despite errors of Judgment while serving
as President, Gen. Grant was still the pop
ular hero. The plain people loved him and
trusted him, ana Mr.. Conkling insisted
n at he should be made the candidate The
New York Senator ridiculed the idea of
uanSer to the country from third term.
1t seemed 10 him to be preposterous The
I.t sword l.a
so much to save the country during civil
war could be trusted, he asserted, to bear
himself at all times its lover and de-
fender. How strong this whole argument
was with the party is evidenced by the
iact tnat 1t took a weeks time in conyen-
ton for the opposition to overcome the
support which Mr. Conkling had rallied to
the Grant standard.
The Argument for Cleveland.
The men who are urging Mr.. Cleveland
for third term represent him as being
necessary at this time to lead the move
ment for sustaining the credit of the coun-
try. The free coinage men, they declare,
are strong and dangerous now as the
greenbackers We're in 1880. He and Mr..
Carlisle have had the same fight with Con-
Gress that Mr.. Hayes and Mr.. Sherman had,
and the final result depends now as 1t did
then on making sure of the succession in
the White House. Mr.. Cleveland, they hold
has practically made the issue. No other
man in the party would the candidate SO
we'll or effectively represent 1t. They rid-
cule the idea of danger to the country from
electng him for the third time He is not
a soldier. He has never manifested any
revolutionary instincts. The question at
issue is not military in any respect 1t is
plain business, calling in case of his sue
cess only for business support and advisors
Democratic Fear of Mckinley.
Democrats who argue in this way shake
their heads when reminded that the repub-
| licans, If successful, would uphold the cred
1t of the country. with Mckinley in the
White House?" they inquire. They assert
that Mr.. Mckinley is most uncertain on
the money issue, with indications pointing
to too much western influence