The Irish standard., 1907-11-23

1s4S, and he was defeated by Taylor.
Taylor did not stand for reelection
and the Democrats secured the presi-
dency again in 1852 when Franklin
Pierce was elected President Pierce
did not stand for reelection. Tho
Democratic candidate in 1856 was
James Buchanan, who was elected.
Buchanan was not candidate for re-
election. In 1860 the Democratic can
didate was Stephen A. Douglas. and
the Republicans first took power by
the election of Abraham Lincoln.
The questions of the war changed
the sentiment that had existed for
more than twenty years against presi
dents standing for a. second term and
made it imperative for Lincoln to stand
for reelection to finish the work in
hand. He was reelected. Much the
same reasons accounted for Grant re.
ceiving two terms. He was the hero
of a great war. The soldier vote con-
troled the country. The questions in
regard to the reconstruction of the
Southern states. kept alive the war
feeling and made Grant twice presi-
dent. He was talked of for a third
term in 1876 but the opposition to
third term prevented his nomination.
and 1t is certain that if he had been
nominated in 1876 he would have been
overwhelmingly defeated. AS 1t was,
Hayes. the Republican nominee, was
actually defeated by Tilden. but Tilden
was cheated out OF the office. In 1880
the soldier vote again demanded a third
term for Grant. but it was powerless
to bring it about and Garfield was
nominated and elected and his Vice
president, Arthur. stood for a second
term but failed to get the nomination.
Cleveland was elected in 1884 and stood
for second term. received the nomi-
nation. but was defeated at the polls
in November. 1888, by Harrison. Har-
rison stood foy a second election, re-
ceived the nomination, but was de-
feated at the polls in 1892 by Cleve-
land. who thus received a second term
after being out Of ofY1ce for four years:
the first and only instance Of the kind
in the history Of the American presi-
dency. Mckinley was nominated in
1895, elected and stood for and re-
ceived the second election in 1900
Could Roosevelt. if he would, break
the traditions Of more than a century?
Could he, If he would, secure the nomi-
nation next summer and re-eIaction
next fall? 1t is extremely doubtful.
If he should be an active candidate for
the nomination. the opposition to a
third term would spring up as it. did
in the time Of Grant. Mr.. Schouler
thus expresses his opinion:
Many are now urging that in dis
regard Of past practice. all people give
to Theodore Roosevelt the unexampled
honor to a third term to the presi-
dency. He. himself. has given his SOL
emn pledge not to be a candidate again,
and I doubt not he has been sincere
in doing So ] further believe he will
adhere to his pledge regardless Of al
pressure. But suppose he should sue
cessfully run the gauntlet Of the Re-
publican convention next summer and
gain the party nomination, there will
still remain the ordeal Of November,
and If he has an opponent who can
well unite the opposition strength, the
anti-third term argument when prop
erly presented ought to convince at the
polls. Even with all this overcome and
Roosevelt is reelected for a. third term
in defiance Of precedent. his new ad-
ministration conducted under such cir
cumstances would be clouded by the
imputation Of undue ambition, selfish
ness, and broken faith, and its conduct
thus handicapped would be likely to
drag him down rather than exhalt him
higher in history. The greatest evil of
ALL however. resulting from any such
experiment would come upon the peo-
pile themselves by permitting those in
power to plan for unlimited continual
tion in supreme once, thus opening n
high-road to monarchy and permanent
mischief would result"
GEN. GEORGE II, THOMAS.
DR.. William ]. Jones, historian OF
the Confederacy. asserts that he has
in his possession letter written by
General George H. Thomas, which
shows that Thomas applied for COM