The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-10-14
THIRD TE1.--.

tive officials been satisfied with
two terms that many people sup
posed that they were limited to
that number by law, and in many
states such is the case.
Older citizens will remember
how the country vas shocked by
the announcement that President
| Grant would be a candidate for
a third term, and ID to that time
great majority Of the F. ople be-
lieved that it was demonstrations
al for a president to serve more
than two terms, and so strong
was the impression that such
ought to be the law, that Gen.
Grant, despite his splendid mill
tary and civil record and the
backing Of the most perfect po-
litical organizatie n that ever ex-
listed in the United States, was
denied a third telm~after a strug-
! gle that almost sent Nthe Repub-
| lican party asunder.
When at the close of Washing
tons second term the leaders of
the nation earnes ly besought
him to third he RESPECTFULLY but
firmly declined, saying in sub
stance that with the patronage in
the hands of the executive Git
amounted to less than $4,000
per annum at tha< time it would
! be possible to per,etuate himself
| in place and instead being a presi-
dent, he would develop into a die
tator and principle would be
eliminated from presidential con-
tests, and that they would be-
come mere struggles for places
and patronage.
This statement struck a respon-
sive chord in the hearts Of the
American people, and the sound
ness OF its reasoning was SO gen
orally recognized that from
Washington to Grant no presi-
dent ever even Considered stand
) ing for third term, and after the
, disastrous experience of Gen
Grant the question: was not raised
, until the people, almost irrespect-
i've of party, DANGEROUSLY demand
ed Of Roosevelt tnat he stand fol
a third term, or rather for a sec.
: ond elective term, The president
instantaneously put a quietus OF
! the subject, declaring that thu
4 two-term principle was sounc
= American political doctrine, ant
> that 1T should be observed il
: spirit as we'll as III letter" Tha
:, while he had only served on
: elective term, he had in realit,
l. served two terms and refused t
+ allow his name to be considere
), for a third time.
d Thus Washington sentence
@ third termism to death; the pc.
Y, pc buried it in the days Of Gran
lie and in 1903 Theodore Rooseve
i erected over it a monument S
IF stupendous that it can neve
+ again be exhumed to trouble tn
American people 1t has bee
V forever settled that the Unite
1t States will always have a pres
as dent, but never a dictator.
te Precisely the same reasons VIII
es a president should not h"veA
Il third term apply with equal fore
Id to the office Of governor OF
&c great state, and while tl'ev hay
IN not always been observed thel
70 have been very few exception
ID and these exceptions have alwa'
n been brought about by Il
Vaccinations Of politicians ar
n, never by a spontaneous demar
n on the part Of the people.
IN 1t is interesting to note VIII
at Gov. Johnson sad on this subje
e in his first annual address,:
sc AT the outset | wish to di
er cuss question which, during Il
past few weeks, has impresse
ee me as being of n,r,~s, importanc
of | refer to the tel: -. of office
the governor. : .,Wly electt
ne executive is so burdend with Il
ey duty of selecting his official far
On i1y that he finds little time for Il
IN study of the conditions of the Sc
ut eral state institutions and matte
- of state concern generally. The
We too, he goes into office with Il
e., converting of the legislature
IN that his administration finds i
On greatest work at the beginning
or his term. For these and 9th
sc reasons | believe that the tenu
n Of this office should be extendt
A. to four years, wi:h the provisio
e. that the executis e should not
ne eligible for reelection. Und