The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-05-25

Third Term Talk.
There Is an ancient proyerb which
runs in this wise. PROMISES, like pie
crusts, are made to be broken. ~
Whether Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
80 regards the matter this deponent
saith not because he knoweth not II
Will be remembered that on the night
of the election he declared that he
would not be candidate In 1908; that
he considered the three and one-half
years which he served prior to March
4, 1905, as his first term. That decla-
ration gave great joy to divers and
sundry aspiring statesmen. 1t seemed
to clear the field. Consequently some
thing like dozen of them were pull
Ing wires, setting up pins, jollying the
public and overworking their press
agents even before President Roose-
velt was sworn in for his four years
term In his own right. Now certain
SNUG politicians. some of them To-
Gated in editorial sanctums, are deftIy
preparing the way for the candidacy
of President Roosevelt in 1908, chiefly
for their own good. They are trying to
arrange a set Of circumstances In
which 1t will be his patriotic duty to
run again for the highest earthly Office
"a set of circumstances in which 1t
will be made to appear that he, and he
only, can save the republic from GO
Ing to what the late Mr. Mantalini
would den0minate ''the denlattisa bow
vows" Whether they can make
President Roosevelt believe that such a
crisis exists remains to be seen. The
mere suggestion of such condition Of
affairs, however, must cause sort of
heart failure in the breasts OF the
divers and sundry ambitious states.
men aforesaid.
If President Roosevelt chooses to
change his mind and to become can
didate once more there is nothing to
prevent. "Wise men change their opin-
ions; fools never" so It Is said. There
Is no written law or constitutional pro-
vision against third term, but there
Is a. deep seated, perhaps an ineradi-
cable, prejudice against it. President
Mckinley at the flood tide Of his pop
ularity so fully recognized it that he
promptly and emphatically sat down
OIL Senator Chauncey Mitchell Depew
and General Charles Henry Grosvenor
when those palpitatlng patriots pro-
posed third term for him. He vastly
increased his prestige by 50 doing.
First and last, there have been three
presidents who might have had third
terms had they so Washington,
Jefferson and Jackson-but with wise
patriotism, which is one of their clear
est and strongest titles to the love
and gratitude Of their countrymen, they
put away the great temptation from
before their faces. BY so doing they |
rendered great service to their coun- |
try. President Mckinley confirmed |
and strengthened their example In the |
i16 years of our existence under the |
constitution only one man, General |
Ulysses Simpson Grant, has openly as
pired to third term, and, great and
popular soldier as he was, 1t was de-
nied to him after n struggle which |
shook the Republican party to Its GEN.
-er 1t has been repeatedly asserted
hat Grover Cleveland wanted third
erm, an assertion which has not been
proved. Whether 1t could be proved
10 not know.
or course President Rooseyeit's case
s not wholly similar to that of WASH
ngton, Jefferson ct al. He will have
erved seven and a half years en- March
!, 1909, but he has been elected only
'nce. That fact might or might not
liminish the widespread prejudice
gainst third term.
Nobody appointed me his adviser,
Personally l like him. II, as his per
onal friend, I were called on for an
pinion. ! would unhesltatlngly advise
Inn to adhere to his declaration not to
tand again for the presidency. He is
Exceedingly popular. No man with
ense will deny that. If he adheres to
us declaration, everything he says and
oes during his present term will re-
eive tho most favorable construction
8 the words and acts of man seek
ng to build n noble fame by purely
atriotic conduct. No man ever had n
ner opportunity to win high place
history. On the other hand, the mo-
lent 1t Is known thathe is a candidate
or another term-or even, like Barkis.
w1llin-he will be viciousIy assaiIed
y men and papers within his own
arty-for the "outs" always outnum-
er the "lns." Thousands who are now
xalting his horn In hope OF getting
liice for themselves or their kinsmen
nd friends will turn upon him and
end him when he Is known to be a !
andidate. II they have not been pro- !.
lded for AS he cannot possibly take i.
are Of all the patriots anxious to sac
hce themselves on the altar of their
'untry, there win be plenty OF Repub-
cans ready and anxious to even up !
10 score with him. By again becom-
10 candidate he will afford them
golden opportunity for revenge; by y
declining they viii have to
Ike 1t out In sulking. If he is again
all the disgruntled Repub-
cnns-and their name will be legion