Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-07-01
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CLARK S
The Democrats May NOM
mate a Dark Horse >e> Ver>
satility Of Jefferson >>> The
Third Term Idea -
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glnia thoroughbreds., Some of his ia
vorite saddle horses, notably Wildair
and Eagle, have regulations as endur-
ing as Alexander's Bucephalus, Napo-
Icons Marengo, Wellington's Copenha-
gen, Robert E. Lees Traveller, Stone
wall Jackson's Old Sorrel and Philip
II. Sheridan's Rienzi.
Believing with all his heart that the
intelligence of the masses is the true
basis Of free government, in his youn-
ger days he evolved the system of pub
lie schools now In vogue, which we
boast is the chief bulwark of our liber-
ties, and after retiring from the presi-
dency founded the University Of Vir-
ginia, one of the greatest institutions
of learning on the whole face of the
earth. By these two achievements to
say nothing of his political teachings, he
has perhaps exerted wider influence
over the minds Of men than any of his
predecessors or successors in the chief
magistracy Of the republic.
He must be counted among the great
est lawgivers OF all time. By abolish
ing the unjust and unnatural rule of
primogeniture he conferred perma-
nent benefaction upon his fellow citi,
gems, and his statute of religious free
dom is one Of the three things on which
he chose to rest his fame IN his cele-
brated epitaph and which he deemed
his clearest titles to the gratitude of
future generations. Had hts scheme of
gradual and rational emancipation been
adopted the chances are that we would
have escaped the countless horrors and
calamities OF the war between the
states. He, and not Nathan Dane, was
the real author of the ordinance for the
| government of the northwest territory,
although Daniel Webster undertook to
give the honor to the latter. Jefferson
was virtually the author of the first
ten amendments to the constitution of
the United States, which are in the
nature of bill of rights and which
contain the essence of human freedom.
Napoleon declared that he would
descend to posterity with his code in
his hand. Senator Hoar has said most
felicitously that Jefferson comes down
to us with the Declaration Of hide
pendence in one hand and the Louisi-
ana purchase In the other, but he will
be largely and gratefully remembered
for his wisdom as Legislator for b9tA
state and nation.
He was 80 thoroughly grounded in
the principles OF government of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
pie that he was potent factor in two
revolutions-one in America, the other
in France-the purpose of which was
to establish the twin propositions that
"all men are created equal" and that
governments derive their Just powers
from the consent of the governed" So
clear was his vision as a statesman
that after century Of lagislat ton we
have not attained his lofty standard
Of political conduct. The strongest
proof Of bis versatility is the fact tina,
he is more frequently quoted than any
other statesman the world has ever
known.
Tho Third Term Idea.
A cat has nine lives, SO it is said, and
no matter what time of day one kills
2 snake it will not die till shutdown
The third term monstrosity has more
lives than oil the eats on Cat island
and outlives any species Of peptAf
whatsoever. Even the Washington
Post, brilliantly and ably edited, has
become added on the subject. Lovers
OF free government fervently hoped
that when William Mckinley added
the seal of his appfeeyal, emphatic and
clear, to the doctrine OF WasshAingtop
Jefferson, Madison. Monroe and jack:
son, that two terms Of the presidency
are enough for any man, the matter
!: was settled for all time to come. A
genuine American, Of whatever creed
or party, loves to think of that su.
premely American utterance by Pres.
tdent Mckinley. But it seems that
like Banquos gh9st, the question will
not down. and the Post NOT Only adYo'
Gates 1t, but prophesies that somebody
some day will secure third term.
In an elaborate editorial on "Cleve-
land and the Third Term" while stat
ing that 1t does not believe that Grover
Gan be l dominated at st. Louis, 1t says
inter allai
In what condition Will the third tegH,
proposition and itself when the Democrat:
10 national convention Of 1904 shall have
z completed Its work? Twenty.four years
attempt ever made to repeal the 30 called
'sunwritten law Of the republic. forbid
ding third presidential term to any man
was defeated In the person Of the nations
we'll beloved citizen, General Grant. Tina
Ereat event. one Of the most interesting II
our poiltisal history. was hailed as 6
anal and perpetual .Feafarmation Of thai
isat a, would mot NOT accept I'D Grant saa!t
not secure waa henceforth to be ABBY.
and beyond the compass Of any corp mend:
able ambition. That idea In varying
terms had been repeated thousands Q
times before the presidential possibilitie
Of 1904 began to be discussed. Is it a
strongly intrenched today as 1t was 81,
or eight months ago? We think not. 1
seems to us that the Cleveland third tern
movement, whatever may be Its Influence
on the future Of Mr.. Cleveland. has had {
Il tendency to place the third term idea be
Il fore the country in q more rational ant
conservative light.
We thipk notbing in the future is NOR
certain than striving for the third term
II seems palpable impeeslbality 70 pro
hibit effort for the attainment 81 an,
lawful prize. And It is not highly I'M
prehable that the American people may
deem Y Bige and prudent and patriotic t.
confer on Solpe great president the dis
tinct!on that Warrington Yenld not ant
Grant could not have.
1 feel reasonably certain that tn
Post Is wrong in concluding that thu
third term idea is any more popular
now than when Grant was on the