The times., 1901-06-12
Circulation Statement.
No Third Term for Mr.. Mckinley.

President McknleyS statement oIl
the subject Of a third term IS timely
and proper. 1t is also eOmmendabie ii
that it expresses in language that can
not be misunderstood the unalterable
determination of the President that
under no conceivable circumstances VIII
he accept a third nomination to the
Office which he now holds. Beyond this
no especial credit need be given to him,
for the action is neither more nor less
than was to be expected OF a man OF
his recognized tact and sound pollucal
judgment It is precisely what any
broad-ninded and reasonably astute
person in his position would have done
Under ordinary circumstances such a
statement would not only have been
unnecessary. but in bad taste. So long
as the suggestion of a third term comes
as a mere generality, and from sources
which nobody deems responsible, the
President can well afford to preserve
dignihed silence. and it eminently BELTS
him 10 do so. But when the propositlon
is seriously made by men who. how
ever irresponsible they may be in fact,
occupy high official positions in the
Presidents own party, then it is fairly
incumbent upon him. to speak, lest the
public he misled respecting his own
feelings in the matter
There never was a grain of sense in
the suggestion Of a third term. If any
thing in politics is clear, then is it clear
that the American people are not yet
ready 10 break through the rule estao-
lsbed by Washington. and to this day
held as one of the most cherished ira
ditions of the Republic. II. under any
circumstances. the two-term rule IS
ever to be departed from, there GER
tainlv is nothing in the existing situa-
ton to Justify such a departure. me
only disturbing question before US Is
that of the constitutional status Of our
new possessions. This. so far as it may
he said to have any bearing upon the
rropriety of nominating Mr.. Mckinney
for q third term, is an argument against
If The decision Of the Supreme Court
that these Territories may be governed
outside Of the Constitution is step to-
ward what millions of people in the
best of faith regard as the establish
uept OF Empire in America. This de-
cision has come as the direct result OF
President AIcKinley's policy, and Is
claimed by his partisan supporters as
victory for his Administration. To
attempt on the heels Of this decision,
10 break down time-honored rule, and
make Mr.. Mckinley a third-time can
didate. would intensity the popular
feeling that Imperialism is rapidly sup
pIanting repubIicanism in the United
states.
This feeling is not to be lightly re-
gsrded or sneered at. No one believes
that an Empire will ever be established
in this country at a single move, Such
changes always come gradually-step
by stcp-and when the complete transi-
ton is made, it is as an easy and nat
ural sequence to what has gone be
fore. So it was in Rome, so it was in
the case Of the first French Empire, Sc
ii has generally been everywhere
The talk of a third term for President
Mckinley has never been taken serious
" by any considerable number Of our
people. but the longer it went on the
more serious its consideration would
have become. There is not the slightest
probability that the scheme would have
worked at this time. but it might have
laid the foundation for dangerous com
plicauons in later years. Hence, il is
well that President Mckinley should
have spoken thus early, and in terms
that admit Of no doubtful interpreta-
ton.