Arizona republican., 1901-06-16
The Reverence for Precedents
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE
 SUBJECT OF THE THIRD TERM

which had been previously based solely
 upon sentiment. Had the American
 people felt that a third term election
 would threaten the liberties of this re-
 public they would long since have rer- dered such contingency impossible by
 some legal proceeding. That they have not done so is conclusive evidence of
 the fact that no such fear exists. "The
 sober second thought" of the people Is
 wiser and more effective than the frantic clamor of political demGgogues.
 In this connection it migrc be perti-
 nent to suggest the inoriry, why have
 not the people taken some decisive ac-
 ton on this question, which has agl-
 tated the public mind for so many years? The reason is obvious. The ! American people have too much con fidence in the perpetuity of their insti- | tutions to concede for a moment that ] the election of any true American three times to the chief magistracy of the nation could by any possibility endan- ger their liberties. Such an admission would destroy all confidence in the republic.
 | It would be a confession of weakness which would place us before the world in most degrading aspect. It would | be an admission that this nation was not strong enough to survive the shock caused by the election three times of q president whose peculiar fitness had been demonstrated; one. perhaps. who having inaugurated a grand and mag nificent policy which he had originated and which no other man could carry to q successful conclusion as well as h.. It would still further be most humili- ating confession that the choice of the people could not be selected for the third time, although in strict accord ance with the law and constitutional authority, because such action would violate a precedent. more honored in the breach than the observance.
 It is automatic in American political faith. without distinction of party, that the majority shall rule That the test of merit for political qualification shall be honesty and capacity that no man shall either seek or decline office; that the devoted services of every citizen are due to hls country first; that all Americans are subject to their coun- try's call at any time. and in any capacity in which their services may be demanded. Keeping in view these fundamental maxims of American po- !itical philosophy 1t Is apparent why the Amsrican people have never seen fit to stultify themselves, It is evident that they did not propose to mould into law a mere sentimental idsa; an idea completely at variance with the patri- otic fortitude and persistent integrity. n M oh "a gt a al the citizens of this republic when act- ing calmly and dspassionately upon questions of great public concern.
 In Washington's tune the nation was of infantile proportions It was a new eXpone nt in the science of government IL was impossible at that time to fore see tithe of the perils which might beset the nation in the great future which spread out before it. Even the most exhaustive research and keen per ception could scarcely approximate to a slight conception of the glorious career which was In store for the young republic. Great care and eau ton were at all times necessary. The ship of state" was sailing in an untried sea. Great skill was required to avoid the surging breakers of an unknown shore. Hence expediency was the watchword and precedence the guiding star
 As the young republic had just es- capped from the galling chains of mon- aro.lical tyranny it was absolutely necessary to draw the public mind away from despotic tendencies and avoid even the semblance of imperial pretensions. No wisdom could at that time have provided for the increasing power and phenomenal growth of the nation for even a half century. The fathers of the republic in their patri- otic fervor only intended to make pro- vision for the existing condition and the immediate future. They left the constitution--that great Magma Charta of our libertiss-in status of evo!u- tion. They intended that every pro- vision could be made in the future for any and every advance commensurate with the most sxtraragant ideas of national growth and progress They strove to avoid every attempt to hamper and retard the most phenome- nal expansion. Hence we find that as each new epoch arises for another dhN ant W Nsil ant ID ipuiu Api S'i'oi S'ho the scope of governmental power by amendment, thus exercising super visory care over every stsp in the high way of the nations progress. It is clear that the fathers of the republic
 in their widest flights of fancy never conceived the idea that this republic would become a world power, as it is today. They never expected that new problem would result from the acquisition of foreign territory wrasted from the possession of European monarchy, and the establishment of government for this territory in har- mony with the American idsa. They never imaginsd that such an event would immortaliZe the close of the nineteenth century. They could not foresee the remarkable and unpr5 ce- dented results in political economy which have so astounded the world during the past quarter of century.
 Nor can we at the present moment fully appreciate the stupendous effects which are destined to flow from the culmination of present complications in international affairs. Yet the fath- CTS of the republic placed no inhibition against the exercise of this remarkable expansion. They simply left the mat ter to the wisdom of the future. They f.lt hat tha I aIl1 l mi nf