Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-03
rurRp TERM rALK,

The discussion Of q third term VIII
not down, Notwithstanding the state
monts made By President Roosevelt ana
his close friends The Sacramento Bee.
for instance, insists that although the
matter must be left entirely TO the
Judgment and conscience Of the Presi-
dent, his refusal to serve again would
be a serious mistake The Bee further
expresses the belief that unless the
delegations to the next Republican Ma
uonal Convention from the Pacific
Coast are juggled 10 the interest of
Taft. Fairbanks or some other candl-
date. they win be solid ior Roosevelt y
The Troy Press, on the other hand.
Expresses the sentiments OF great
many. when II says
"rhc reasons presented against third
termjsm are of commanding chatac-
ter and would influence myriads OF Vot-
crs 10 oppose II at the polls, " the op-
porunity presented itself independents
of partisan or personal considerations.
| The Republic is based upon the theory
Of the ability of the people to govern
themselves This would not be true II
lt were Indispensable to keep one man
in the Presidency; # the selection of
! any other person among eighty mil
lions of people would put in jeopardy
the common welfare
Without entering into the discussion
of this subject upon which the voters Of
the country may have to make up their
minds In a not distant future, We may
be permitted to point out that when
Washington declined a third term, he
did so bcscause he was weary OF the
burdens Of q responsible Office, and per-
heps also Of the Jealousy that sent it's
veuomous shafts against him. He ex-
pressed his sentiments one day TO his
cabinet, when he declared that he had
never repented but once the having
slipped the moment Of resignng his
Office, and that was every moment
since, that he had rather be
on his farm than to be made emperor Of
the world and yet they were charging
him with wanting TO be king With
such feelings during his second term. It
is not strange that he should refuse
third, hut Washington. as far as
known, did not regard a third term as
menace to liberty.
jefferson also became weary OF the
responsible office, He, however, had
more to say about the inexpedlency of
third term. He expressed the hope that
the precedent OF Washington would be-
come the established rule. "A few more
preceden,s,' he said, will oppose the
obstacle Of habit to any one after
while who shall endeavor to extend his
term Perhaps it may beget a DISPOSE
ton 10 establish it by an amendment to
the Constitution"
The amendment has not heen forth
coming, but in 1876 u resolution passed
Congress, as follows:
Resolved, That in the opinion Of this
House the precedent established by
Washington and other Presidents Of the
United States, IN retiring from the pres
ideutial Office after their second term
has become by universal concurrence
part of our republican system of gov
eminent. and that any departure from
this timo-honored custom would he I'M
wise ana uupatrlotic and fraught with
perm TO our free Institutions"
This resolution was adopted by
vote Of 233 to is, and silenced the
friends of President Grant who clam
orcd for a third term for him