Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-16

by the personal opposition of it's in
tended beneficiary, George Washing
ton. The first president 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
are enough for a chief executive. The
two-term limitation for long time
was considered to be as inviolable as
II it were a part of the constitution.
anc many Americans actually believed
that it>was written law,
Only one man who had served two
terms as president made an effort to
obtain third term. He was Gen. U.
5. Grant. The great soldier was unan-
imously nominated for president by
the Republican party In 1868 and In
1879, and in both instances was elected
by an overwhelming majority. His
second administration 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 unworthy
subordinates. The result was that the
Republicans lost their majority in the
lower house of congress and in 1873
came so nearly losing the presidency
that II required extraordinary and
extra constitutional methods to count
enough votes to land their candidate.
But Gen. Grant did not share In the
partial downfall of his party. and de-
spite the bitter campaign against him
waged by personal enemies. he re-
manned the peoples hero. He was
popular at the north as the great mill
tary leader who had led the Union
forces to victory in the Civil War.
The south forgot many of the iniqui-
ties of reconstruction in the memory
OF Grants magnanimity at Appomat-
tox. 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 cam
other yeturning American has ever
been welcomed.
Then the third term boom was
started Gen. Grant listened to the
buzzing Of the bee with vanishing re-
luctance and finally consented to stand
for the nomination. At the head OF
the movement was one of the ablest
politicians the country has ever pro-
duced-Roscoe Conkling of New York.
The third term boom for the great
popular hero was caught up with
great enthusiasm by the people gen.
orally, and for awhile 1t 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 1t 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
Republican national convention in
Chicago in June, 1880. That was the
greatest battle in the history of polit-
zeal conventions in this country. either
Republican or Democratic. 1t was
held twenty years after the Chicago
convention which named Lincoln.
twenty eight years before the chicago
convention which meets today. 1t may
be taken as marking the halfway
post of the Republican march OF tri-
umph through American history. That
the bitterness of that fight and the
enmities there aroused did not prevent
the party from presenting q united
front at the election is a proof that
Republican discipline Is true and
faithful to meet any test.
When the convention met 1t was
Grant against the field. The allies
were led by James G. Blaine and their
hosts included as candidates Sherman
of Ohio. Edmunds of Vermont. WASH
burne OF Illinois and Window OF Min
nesota. In the camp of the allies there
was more than one dark horse hitched
to n bush. The allies were determined
to prevent the nomination OF Grant
at whatever cost.
Blaine was the great hope Of the
nti-third -termers. He had led the
party In the national house OF repre-
sentatiyes at a time when great
leader was sorely needed. Four years
L~s... ta hoH ufrYfggIed for the NOM