The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-14
TUESDAY, JULY a..
THE THIRD e IDEA.

Ever since the days of George WASH
ington there has been an idea among
Americans that to elect a man 10 the
presidency for the third consecutive
term would endanger the freedom OF
the American people. This idea mas
become so strong in the American mind
that if is now spoken Of as the unWrlt-
ten clause in the constitution. ana is
looked upon as being as binding as any
one of the clauses of that instrument
which the fathers of the county adopt
ed over a hundred a age or which
their successors a since that day
added to this important document.
1t has been a tradition in this coun
try that George Washington, through
a feeling of patriotism and a desire to
keep our government a pure democracy.
declined to accept a nomination Tor
president for the third time and thus
established the principle of n tnlrd
term" This has been h law of the
land ever since.
Not ever such a popular man as Cen
eral Grant could break through this
unwritten laW-this precedent establish
ed by the father of mis- country who for
the sake of his country was willing to
forego the honor of being for the third
time chosen as its president
For three or more generations the
people of the United Sites have been
taught that il would be death to the
liberties of the people for a man TO act
as president for three successive terms.
George Washington SAID it, and because
George Washington could not tell a
lie. therefore it was true. that the cleo
ton TO the presidency of a man for
three terms would destroy the funda-
mental principles of the free and indie
pendent system of self government by
the people.
Through all these years we have
given George Washington credit for
wonderful love OF country n true
patriotism in thu declining this high
honor. We have been taught that
George Washington refused to accept a
third term as resident because he
thought by so doing that either he or
some future successor might make him.
self dictator and disrupt the American
republic. We grew up with the idea
that George Washington had refused
the election to the presidency for the
third term because he feared that his
ambition would overcome his patriot
ism, were opportunity given him TO
make himself the ''czar of all n Amer
icas' or that should he be able TO resist
the temptauon ne would by accepting
such election establish 4 precedent
whereby some future president. less
patriotic and more ambitious Than him-
self, might overthrow the republican
form of which he mad es-
tablished.
Therefore II is a rude shock to our
veneratiyn for the Father of his Coun-
try and our implicit confidence in the
disinterested patriotism of the first
president 10 no told that he refused a
denomination for the third time because
he thought that If he accepted he would
not be able TO carry his own state. Ac-
cOrding TO Harper's Weekly. Washing
ton, when the third term proposition
was preached declined the nomination
because his political opponent. Thomas
Jefferson. had such control OF the state
of Virginia that he could prevent its
vote being cast for the federalist. and
he made q virtue OF necessity and de-
clined denomination on the high
ground of patriotism. when it really
was because he feared defeat if NOM
mated. Harper's Weekly says:
There IS a good deal OF doubt. more
over. whether the dntithird-term ira
ditiOn Will -rtUd searching InVeStiga-
ton. One u the reasons. if not the
main reason. for Wasnington'S refuSai
10 accept a denomination in 1896 was
the knowledge that Virginia was in
the hands OF his political opponents.
the JeffersOnian republicans. and that.
if he ran. he might be subjected to the
humiliation OF failing 10 carry his
native state. As for Jefferson in 1908.
he was virtually bankrupt. and could
not have afforded to spend a third term
IN the White house Besides. ne knew
that his political p~riuClulaS were as
sured Of aSceudeuCy in Washington.
and that. II he lived. his successors
would seek and accept from him ad-
vice"
Poor old George. Some thing new is
cir found out about him every FAY
which tends To dim the luster of his rep
utation- VIC Will De told some of these
DAYS that ne denied cutting down that
cherry tree and IT, some poor little
negro on the plantation was hauled up
and thrashed for the offense. having
been charged by George with the
deed.