The Washington herald., 1908-06-16

ticians who will not breathe easily until
the thing Is all over. The slip that is
often reputed 10 intervene between cup !
and lip is always considered in politics. |
Strangely enough, the uneasiness abou,
this particular convention is based upon
a fear, entirely new in national politics
the fear that the convention will be stam-
peded by a third-term boom. That Mr..
Roosevelt has been positive in his afirma-
tiOns that he would not accept the nom
ination has not quleted the fears OF his
opponents. nor has II extinguished the
hopes of his more ardent supporters.
Only twice before has there been any
serious talk OF third term for the Pres
ident. The first time third-term boom
started over tho country it was nipped in
the bud by the personal opposition OF It's
intended beneficiary, George Washington.
The first President declined to take a
third term OF Office. and In so doing he
eEUEciated a principle which has ever
since bound the American peOple-the
principle that two terms is enough fo-
a Chief Executive. The two-term limita-
tion for q long time was considered to
be as invlolable as II It were a part OF
the Constitution. and many Americans
Only one man who had served two
terms as President made an effort to OBJ
tain a third term. He was Gen. [. s.
Grant. The great soldier was unanimous
ly nominated for President by the Re-
publican party In 1868 and IN 1872. and in
both instances was elected by an over
whelming majority. HIS second admins
trauon was far from being satisfactory
TO all the people. and was disgraced by
several ugly scandals Gen. Grant was
not at fault but his party had to bear
the burden of the actions OF his un-
worthy subordlnates The result was that
the Republicans lost their majority In
the Lower House OF Congress. and in
1876 came so nearly losing the Presidency
that Il required extraordinary and extra
constitutional methods 10 count enough
votes to land their candidate.
But Cen Grant did not share IN the
partial downfall OF his party. and despite
the bitter campaign against him waged
10y personal enemies. he remained tho
peoples hero. He was popular at the
North as the great military leader who
had led the Union forces 10 victory in
the civil war The South forgot many
OF the iniquities Of reconstruction IN the
memory OF Grants maganimity at Apo
mattox. Gen. Grant made a trip around
the world. which was a triumphal pro-
Cession through all the nations. When he
returned on the eve OF the campaign OF
1880 ne was welcomed as no other return
ing American has ever been welcomed.
Then the third-term boom was started.
Gen. Grant listened 70 the buzzing OF the
bee with vanishing reluctance. and finally
consented 10 stand FOR the nomination.
At the head OF the movement was one
OF the ablest politicians the country has
ever produced-Roscoe Conkllng. OF New
York The thir1-term boom for the great
popular hero was caught up with great
enthusiasm by the people generally. and
for a while IL was believed that Grant
could not be defeated. The politicians
were not at all pleased for there were
many other candidates. In a very little
while ii was Grant against The Field
the third-term boom against traditions of
Washington and skill OF the wire-pullers
The issue was fought out at the Repub-
lican national convention Ia Chicago In
June. 1850 That was the greatest battle
IN the history Of political conventions In
this country. either Republican or Demo
cratic. IL wac held twenty years after
the Chicago convention which named Lin
coin. twenty-eight years before the Chi
may be taken as marking the halfway
post Of the Republican march OF triumph
through American history That the Bit
terness OF that fight and the enmities
there aroused did not prevent the party
from presenting united front az the
election Is a proof that Republican dis
clpline Is true and faithful 70 meet any
test.
When the convention met II was Grant
against the field The "allies" were led
by James G.. Blaine. and their hosts in
cluded as candidates Sherman OF Ohio
Edmunds. OK Vermont: Washburne, OF
Illinois. and Window. OF Minnesota. Ir
the camp Of the allies there was more
than one dark horse hitched 10 a bush
The allies were determined TO prevent IN,
nomination Of Grant. at whatever cost.
Blaine was the great hope OF the anti
thlrd-termers. lie had led the party II
the national House Of Representatives al
a time when a great leader was sorel!
needed Four years before he had strug
gled for the nomination for President, {,
be defeated by an Ohio dark horse. Ruth
erford 3. Hayes. Indeed. Conkling wa
engineering the Grant boom as the only
means OF defeating Blaine, whom h,
hated with all the strength Of his i'm
perious soul.
Four years before Col. Robert c. Inger
soil had nominated Blaine In the famou
''plumed knight speech. which still
stands at the head Of the great conven
tion speeches This time another gTea
speech was made one that ranks second
only 90 InRersoll's. IL was Conkling
speech nominating Grant.
When asked what State he halls from,
on sole reply shall be-
"Ho comes fr1m AITomattox
And IS famous apple tree
That was the beginning Of a powerful
appeal 10 the country that was grateful
10 Grant for his services In saving IN
Union. So much OF the brief speech a.
was devoted 10 Grant was powerful ant
effective. But Conkling could not stol
with an appeal for his own candidate
His hatred Of Blaine was so great that i
overwhelmed his better judgment. and h,
concluded the speech with a few sentences
that set the teeth OF every Blaine man Il
the country. Conkling's sneers wer
more potent for injury 70 his cause thar
his eloQuence OF advocacy could overcome
The balloting began. On the first tes
Grant had 3oi votes and Blaine 2Si. Will,
g7S votes were required 10 nominate
After the two leaders. the strongest can
didate in the field was John Sherman. o
Ohio. He had ninety-three votes on III,
first ballot. and increased to III on tn,
thirty second ballot. Grants rose to 81
at one time, but never fell below SO6 afte
the first ballot.
Sherman's name had been placed befor
the convention by James A. Garfield
Garfield knew from the first that Sher
man could not win; he was convince,