Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-23
ROOSEVELT AND GRANT
In Relation to Third Term Of the
Presidency.

Gen. Grant. having served two
terms as President. was eager to
serve third. The House of Repre-
sentatives in 1875. by vote of 234 to
IS, passed resolution to the effect
that in the opinion of this House the
precedent established by Washington
and other Presidents of the United
States, in retiring from the presi-
dental office after their second term
has become, by universal concurrence.
a part of our republican system OF
government and that any departure
from this time honored custom would
be unwise, unpatriotic and fraught
with peril to our free institutions.
Although called car and accused
of Caesarism. Grants ruling passion
would not subside. Yet that passion
did not spring from any desire to
found a dynasty or to perpetuate his
party in power, or to protect any
special interest. plutocratic or demo-
cratic 1t was fostered by his con-
seriousness that he had not made a
great President. but on the contrary.
had made a great many mistakes. He
wished to redeem himself.
1t NAV be that his trip around the
world was planned with view to call
ing attention to his prowess. NO
doubt the promoters of the plan to
make him President third time used
the world tour to advertise his candi-
dacy The tour was success. He
was received with royal honors in
Fi1rope and Asia He deported him
self as an American should. and moth
ing so became him during all the ac-
carnations with which he was re-
ceived as his innate modesty.
Yet in spite of the worlds applause.
i'm spite of the honors heaped upon
him by kaiser. king. queen. car and
mikado. he came back to his native
land bitterly antagonized by vigor-
Gus Democratic party. by independent
Republicans more or less organized.
and by many members of the. regular
party organization.
The result was brilliant disap-
pointment. His old guard stood by
him to the last. The 306 who voted
for him at the convention of $780, af-
terward decorated their bosoms with
bronze medals struck in honor of the
glorious defeat they met with. while
in their ears rang the words of Roscoe
Conkling:
If YOU ask what state he halls from,
Our sole reply shall be,
He comes from Appomattox
And it's famous apple tree.
Last Saturday another ex-President
returned from a tour in Africa and
Europe laden with honor and well
coined by enthusiastic thousands.
Long before he left his native land.
and in the first flush OF gratitude for
his election. to serve a second term in
the White House. he said in a most
formal manner:
"The wise custom which limits the
President to two terms regards the
substance and not the form, and I'M
der no circumstances will l be a
candidate for or accept another nomi
nation.
Three years later he reaffirmed that
statement by saying: Il have not
changed and shall not change the de-
cision thus announced"
In May. 1907, he said to the
Omaha Bee that he would not again
be candidate for the office of Presi-
dent of the United States.
June II, of the same year. to a
question concerning his intention to
be a candidate again, he replied with
decided mo"
December 6 he said to Samuel
Watts, a banker, Il cannot serve be-
yond my present term
December 10 he threatened with
punishment officeholders who should