The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-16
The Great Third I erm Fight
ny FREDERIC J. nAslx1N.

by FREDERICL IIAsi<1N.
Although the country generally
thinks 1t knows pretty well what the
Republican National Convention, which
meets in Chicago to-day, Will do. there
are politicians who Will not breathe
easily until the thing is all over. The
lbctween cup and lip Is always con-
sidered In politics. strangely enough.
the uneasiness about this particular
convention is based upon fear en-
ltirely new In national politics-the fear
that the convention will be atampeded
welt has been positive in hiE affirnla-
tions that he would not accept the
termination has not quoted the fears
OF his opponents. nor has 1T estinguish-
lei the hopes of his more ardent sup
lporters.
Only twice before has there been
arv serious talk OF a third term for a
President. The first time third term
hocm started over the country 1t was
nipped in the bud by the personal op-
George Washington. The first Presi-
dent declined to take a third term of
office, and In so doing he enunciated
a principle which has ever since bound
the American people, the principle that
two terms Is enough for a Chief Eek
coutive. The two-term Limitation for
"a long time was considered to be as
iEyiolable as II 1t were "A part OF the
Constitution, and many Americans ac-
Itually believed that 1t was written
Flaw
Only one man who had served two
terms as President made an effort To
obtain third term. He was General
u. S. Grant. The great soldier was
unanimously nominated for President
by the Republican party in 1858 and in
1879, and In both instances was elect
ed by an Overwhelming majority. His
jsecond administration was far from
ibeinS satisfactory to all the people and
was disgraced by several ugly scan
ldals. General Grant was not at fault,
but his party had to bear the burden
of the actions of his unworthy subor-
climates The result was that the Re-
lpubiicans lost their majority in the
lower house of Congress, and In 1876
came so nearly losing the presidency
that 1t required extraordinary and ex-
methods to count
enough votes to land their candidate.
But General Grant did not share in
the partial downfall of his party. and
despite the bitter campaign against
him waged by personal enemies. he re-
NAMED the peoples hero. He was pop
lular at the North as the great military
leader who had led the Union forces TO
victory in the Civil War. The South
forgot many of the iniqui.les OF Recon-
Istructton in the memory Of Grants
Imagnanimlty at Appomattox. General
Grant made a trip around the world.
which was a StriumphaI procession
Through all the nations. When he re-
turned on the eve of the campaign OF
l1S80 he was welcomed AS no other re-
turning American has ever been well
lcomed.
Then the third term boom was started.
General Grant listened to the buzzing
of the bee with vanishing reluctance,
f{ra lI,,~ nH IN at n
nomination. At the head of the move
ment was one of the ablest politicians
1.-THE country has ever produced---Roscoe
iConkling. OF New York. The third
term boom for the great popular hero
was caught up with great enthusiasm
by the people generally ana for awhile
lit was believed that Grant could not
be defeated. The politicians were not
lat All pleased. for there were many
lother candidates. In very little while
lit was Grant against the field-thc
third term boom against traditions of
| Wa hington and skill OF the wire-pull-
Iers.
The issue was fought out at the Re-
publican National Convention in Chlca-
go insJune, 1880. That was the great
est battle in the history OF political
conventions in this country, either Re-
publican or Democratic. 1t was held
twenty years after the Chicago con-
lvention which named Lincoln. twenty
Ivention which meets to-day, 1t may
be taken as marking the halfway post
lof the Republican march OF triumph
Through American history. That the
bitterness of that fight and the enmi--
tiles there aroused did not prevent
the party from presenting united
front at the election, Is a proof that
Republican discipline is true and faltn-.
Iful to meet any test.
| When the convention met it was.
85prrn ,,ct ta1I al a.
were led by James G. Blaine, and their
HOSTS included as candidates Sherman,
of Ohio; Edmunds, Of Vermont; Wash
burne, oflllinois, and Window, OF Min.
lnesota. In the camp Of the allies there
was more than one dark horse hitched
tora BUSH. The allies were determined
Ito prevent the nomination Of Grant at
whatever cost.
Blaine was the great hope OF the
acknowledgements. He had led the
sentatives at time when a great
leader was sorely needed. Four years
before lie had struggled for the nomi-.
nation for President, to be defeated by
an Ohio dark horse, Rutherford s.
Hayes. Indeed. Conkling was engineer
| ing the Grant boom as the only means
of defeating Blaine whom he hated
with all the strength of his imperious
|soul,
-Four years before Colonel Robert G.
|
famous "plumed knight" speech, which
still stands at tho head of the great
convention speeches. This time an
other great speech was made, one that
franks second only to lngersoll's. Ii
was Conkling's speech nominating
Grant.
when asked what State he halls from.
Our solo reply shall be,
| He comes from Appomattox.
And Its famous apple tree"
That was the beginning of a power
full appeal to the country that was
grateful to Grant for his services in,
saving. thu Union. So much of the
brief speech ms was devoted to Grant
/, was powerful and effective. But
Conklins could not stop with an APP
peal for his own candidate. His ha-
tired OF Elaine was so great that 1t
whelmed his better Judgment, ana he
concluded the speech with a few sen
fences that set the teeth Of every blaine
man In tho country Conknng's sneers
We're more potent for Injury to his
cnuse than his eloquence OF advocacy
n ovarnoo,c, y