The Irish standard., 1907-11-23
THIRD TERM TRADITION.


AS the time approaches for the meet
ing Of tho national committees to AK
the time and place for the national
conventions, the considerations which
are likely to influence the choice of
those conventions become more ap-
parent. Not least among those con-
ton concerning a third term. No
President Of the United States except
Washington had the chance to succeed
to a third term that Theodore Roose-
welt now has. Yet it appears that the
opposition to a third term might even
prevent Roosevelt from obtaining the
nomination next summer. and if not,
might prevent his election in the fall.
The opposition to a third term is we'll
founded. 1t is in keeping with Ameri-
can sentiment and American ideas OF
government. An article by James
Schouler, author Of the History of the
United States, in recent number Of
the Independent, points out the his
torical development Of American sen.
timent on this question.
At the beginning Of our history as a
nation, state pride and state sover.
eighty were strong and the people
yielded with great hesitation to a gen.
eral government. They feared greatly
any executive authority that ap-
preached the power of the British,
King. 1t was known by those who
framed the Constitution that Wash
ington would be the first President
All the states trusted him and there
was no opposition to his holding the
presidency as long as he wished. JEFF
ferson opposed the Constitution as
framed and wished an amendment SO
as to give to each president term
of seven years with no right of re-
election. Washington favored a short
er term with a. settled policy that no
president should hold more than two
terms, and he set the example by re-
firing positively from office after serv-
ing two terms. His example was fol-
lowed by every president. and without
single interruption that custom has
come down to us.
All the presidents down to 1910 stood
for two terms. Washington secured
,,i<l Ydn
successor, Adams. stood for second
term but was defeated by Jefferson
Jefferson held Office for two terms and
was succeeded by his Secretary OF
/ State, Madison. who stood for two
terms and secured them. And he in
turn was succeeded by Monroe, who
also secured two terms. Then came
the younger Adams, who also stood fol
second term but failed Of election
son. who stood for and secured two
terms and was succeeded by Var
Buren in 1896. Van Buren, was con-
sidered the political heir Of Andrew
Jackson. He was looked upon as the
continuation of the jackson dynasty
and that very thing caused sufficient
opposition so that in 1910 when hi
stood for reelection he was over
whelmingly defeated by Harrison.
Now curious change Of sentiment
took place. The attempt of the Jack.
son Democrats to provide for a sue.
cession whether real or imagined
changed the custom and for twenty
years thereafter no president stood 70,
second term. Every president be.
fore this stood for a second term and
no more, and all succeeded in secur-
ing two terms except the two Adamses
Harrison died in office and his vice
president did not stand for reelection
The Democrats returned to power in
1874, when James K. Polk was elected
over Henry Clay. Polk did not stand
for e-election. Lewis Cass of Michi-
gan was the Democratic nominee ID