Graham guardian., 1906-11-30
NO THIRD TERM

President Washington set the
example. After he bad served
eight years as president, tremend
Gus pressure was brought to bear
on him to induce him to continue
in Office. 1t was pointed out that
even with him in command the
nation was weak; that the country
was torn by warring factions; that
foes, foreign and domestic, were
merely awaiting the advent of a
weaker president; that be only
could hold what had already been
so painfully gained; that the
knotty questions still to be solved
were very numerous; that he and
he alone could command respect
abroad and universal loyalty at
home; in word, it was shown
him that the salvation of the infant
nation lay in his continuance in
office. The nation was indeed
young, poor, Inexperienced aud
weak; nevertheless, Washington
declined the third term
When, on the evening of his
election, two years ago, Roosevelt
followed the example of Washing
ton and pledged himself not to
accept "a third term he did a wise
aud patriotic thing
When we say pledged himself
we mean precisely that thing The
pledge was made rather more TO
his own heart and TO his own
ideals than to the people. He had
been elected by what may almost
be called the unanimous vote Of
the American people, No presi-
dent ever had such tremendous
maiorities. He doubtless saw
within bis grasp, that evening,
rnnra-Eeal.,RaT.eEs bsaR Was is eye Xyfst
American ideal, the ideal of self
government for the people and
not one man government. And it
was at the time of his greatest
triumph that he made the pledge
to himself, the pledge to the ex-
ample of Washington, the pledge
to the American ideal. He said
that the custom against the third /
term was a wise custom.
But today even deaf man can
hear the tread and the hurrah Of a
great and of course highly hatter-
ing army, seeking to drive him
from bis position. Yonder thew
come, great body of American
'itizens, but of very various char
.cter.
Have they read no history to
earn the tendency of power to
entralize and magnify itself? Is I
be nation no longer atle to stand .
lone2
They tell him that no ono else c
an dig the big canal. But the g
tnal will not be finished until
'ng after the end of another term u
hey tell him that no one else can fl
anage the railroads. There will Ii
, railroads to manage in this u
untry for hundreds of years to .u
me. They tell him that no one II
Sc can beat the democrats, and ag
ey bIeat to him about the loss of "
Ety representatives at the last 10
'otIon; they tell him that hut one
IN stands between the American IN
ople and rum. If the country tn
S able to stand change of ad. ey
nistration in Washiugton's time ho
s certainly able to do so now.
lincoln said that in the late war
re were single regiments capa.
Of furnishing administrators no, no,
every department of the federal fro
.ernment. Roosevelt knows ver
{ conditions have not changed. Bu
Roosevelt, at least, believes that IN ~
American people are not yet rio
often as to make necessary bur
atorsbip, dru
here is still God in heaven,
every nation Of brave, intelli.
and honest men has His pro- ,Sn ,SL "
on; and the American nation eyo, C
i'll nation of brave, inteIIi If Y
and honest men. if Y,
l-----. you