The San Francisco call., 1904-03-08
THE THIRD TERM.

IT. AMMANY again processes loyalty Mr. C1eve-
| land. Whether this is shrewd move to put Judge
Parker of the cannot be known.
Tammanys alliance has always been with the South, and
the Southern politicians and members of Congress rep
the sentiment of their people Mr. Cleveland will
be accepted by that section This makes the stua-
ton look like offering to the South Cleveland or Hearst
alternative
The anti-third term tradition is very strong Ameri-
have always feared that emergency would be
used by political party make breach i'll that radi-
tion which would lead finally continuous in the
Presidency giving the Office monarchica character.
With the custom naugurated the power of the
President could be used in variety of to secure
life We have this done in Mexico where
Daz strong enough break constitutional tenure
and make himself permanent dictator.
The only organized attempt to third term
that made for Grant in 1880. 1t was powerful
men headed by Conkng then the strongest OF leaders
Its purpose subbornly adhered and Grants 900
votes became historic While this attempt being
made the Democracy alert all points The
pie of Washington in daily and the third term
was denounced as the substance of imperialism. The
greatest hit in the Democratic National Convention of
that year, Cincinnati the speech of Judge Hoady
After denouncing the seating of Hayes he sad But
much the fears of the Republican party Only
lear moved it TO abandon the hope of following usurp
with king" Should the attempt be made to
third in the Presidency, the campaign tera-
the subject lies OF the
Democracy in 1880
Aside from this shifting of its sentiments by one
party the country, there is we'll grounded and deep
feeling against third term Instead of extending the
of the Presidency the feeling rather in favor
of giving the same President only one elected term
With the increase in the Federal ofciary of the
try the personal power of the President has grown.
Mr. Cleveland is patriotic. He reveres our institutions
and desires their preservation and is very doubtful
that he would lend himself to their weakening by
ing extend the Presidential terms indefinitely He ap-
paued Tdens phlosophc acceptance of his fate after
the election of 1876. 1t then in Tildens power
have started revolution the disputed Presidency
The air was heated by party passion and the issue
of such nature that men would have justified them
selves in bringing the serious disorder But
Tden impressed by the evils that would follow
if he the office by such means many of his
parsans were willing use.
Those evils were exactly the same, in their effect as
those that sober minded have in the third
term, and hardly possible that Mr. Cleveland will
be willing undertake such venture, the candidate
of Tammany. His sound and credtabe position in his
countrys history assured but it would be lost by
a nomination for third term, whether he win lose
at the polls. Tammany does not seem to understand
that Mr. Clevelands strength exactly of that quality
which is part of the antthrd idea His partisans
personal their attachment and look upon him
the leading exponent of the old conservative ideas
into opposition by such violent wrench of those ideas
the third term.
OF Tammany represents different element.
1t the instrument of that class which win,
gardess of the methods used that en of the
sequences to the future of the country The motive
power of the minority in Congress the cry against i'm
peralsm. 1t has labored. since the close of the
Spanish war; the fear that
danger from something that the President may do But
that they have put has been repeatedly passed
upon by the people, who have decided that it false
issue The final consequences of the Spanish were
foreseen when it began, they clearly
discernible The attitude of the administration has
properly been tentative, and public sentiment has re-
mained tolerant but unripe
The plight of the Democracy in a thrderm campaign
would be pitiable 1t has always third term
the substance and of imperialism, and would
be put upon the defensive The campaign would
not be long enough for to regorge its words and
its attitude Surely Mr.. Hearst could ask moth
ing better than appear in the the
pion and representative of Washngton's example, and
the protagonst of the partys position on the third term
AS alliance between him and Tammany is much more
natural than of Tammany and Cleveland. of
opinion that the thrdterm proposition in his interest
Under the storm and of war Russia, it is said
is threatened by the torch of revolution 1t would be
wise for the rebellious spirits remember, however