The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-10-31

welt were elected for another term he
would make a moderate. conservA alive
and most admirable President. the pre-
edent once broken would he broken Tor
all time and in the centuries which -.
main one 81 the most valuable safeguard.
Of our institutions would be forever gone
Even though. therefore, I were prruaro,i
to believe that Theodore Roosevelt "a.
more deserving Of this honor than " ash.
ington, jefferson. Madison. Monroe Jack
son or Grant. l should oppose the third
term principle a. would oppose a propose
uon Ia repeal the first nine amendments -
the Constitution. The latter afec' the
the third term principle. unfortunately not
written into the body Of the Constitution.
and yet sanct ioned by the example and
precept ~ George Washington Affects
the welfare Of the people a. a whole The
le--ened respect for the third term ira
dition marks the decldence Of the -alu-
: tary jealousy Of executive power which
once - generally prevailed.
Even IN the case 81 WashinRton. the
foremost man NJ all this world each
generation Of Americans until the present
heartily approved 81 ibe great prec-da1.
which he established and this not y holIv
because Of veneration for his aIg,is'
memory. but because the people have
hitherto instinctively felt that this great
unwritten principle 81 constitutional law
was Of vital value 10 the perpet'.'v ~
republican institutions. The example ~
Washington was written into our con,ritu-
tion- bv Thomas Jefferson in his farawel
address To the people whom he had -..ry.-i
- faithfully. in the following words
That should lay down my charge a. urop.,
g-rtOi l. a. much duty - 20 have borne tam.
fully ~ som- temptation 10 the servlrr, OF IN.
chief Msvis rate he no. 0Ncd rs The Constitution
o. applied by aTacrl,~. 30, once, noni1e.ly 10
years will IN fact become for life AMI ils,or,
shows how sa,il, hat degensrstes into 90 uhsr
'anor Believing that Tepre,sntail, govern
urnt responsible a. short periods Of cl,r'ion IL
that which produces she greatest sum ~ Eappl
ness to mankind. FEEL e duty to do no aet
which .tall essentially inrla air thai princ and
should UNIV illingly he the perNon Wbo. disregard.
Ing the sound precedent srt by an nlu. iriou,
Predecessor. should furnish the hrsi example Of
prolon "a lion bsy ond the second Term Of ono.
The immeasu able debt which IN.
republic owes to Grant. the noble com
mander OF IT. ghti--t armies. could not
-werv" the American people from that
tradition. and the principle ~ the third
term was embodi~d in the following
resolution. passed 10y IN. House OF Repre-
sentltiv"- on December Is. 1875.
R,,1lr,a. That IN the opinion Of thi. House the
precedent established b. Washing ton ana other
Presidents Of the United states. in retiring from
the Prcsidea tial once after their second term has
become o., universal consent nsr' ofour rrpubH.
can p, ,rrn Of 20, EN- rcnt and rhaiar. departure
from mi. time honored custom would be unwise
unpatrinto. and rsugh' with peru to our Sree
Ia ,ttDtion,
The marked change which the Roosevelt
ldolatry has made upon our institutions
let us hor~ only t"inporariy-can lie
measured 10y the fact that Mr.. Roosevelt
availa bilIty for third term is no longer
discussed from tho broader standpoint
Of sound precedent, hut turns almost
wholly upon his personal merits or
dement's Even - tho most Partial
admrer II MIR Roosevelt his merits
cannot b" 50 clear a. to enttls him 10
that which a wise country refused even TO
the father ~ his country
That Mr.. Roosevelt - an avpwod can
didate IN this election Tor a renomlnatIun
for the Presidency - perfectly PLAN II
h. carries New York IN 1910 and other
States go Democratic his nomination -
wholly probable The time To heat him
IN 1871? j. this year of grace 1910 'Now
j. the accepted time and this the day ~
sllvstion-
Tho Ingenious bat somewhat bAlated
plea NJ Elihu Root will not avail 20 change
i-tter. We are not impressed by inc
take Stimson or you must take Me"
argument. That trick has been worked
overtime. In ass ming that We Taft
Republicans have precipitated this Roose.
welt issue Mr. Root il wholly mistaken II
Mr. Roosevelt had not on his return from
Europe projected his personality into this
campaign IN - ohen~iv" and arrogant 4
manner nearly all Republicans would
TODAY he united in supporting the Admin
istra'ion Of William Howard Taft WHOM
however Mr. Roosevelt seized the leador-
ship 81 his party. tore from the hand ~
IN" Vice President the honor which tho
authorized Representatives ~ the pa ~
had done MIN. dictated . platform ari
nominated a ticket. impcachcd tho hone.
Of Mr.. Taft by inspired statements from
Oyster Ray. and proclaimed platform
IN" New Nationalism which ont Brvaus
Bryan. then Rposeveitism inevitably N,-
came IN" great issu" of this cnmpagrr.
and nothing that h.. Mr. Root Mr. Stinsnu
or any one "ls. can now ray cin mai" Il
otherwise. ". Taft Republicans acrr.'
rh" issue. and Ne propos" 20 give o.
militant Colonel a taste Of his own m"d.-
cine hy heating him 20 a frlz.le ""
propo-" On November :. 1910, 80 far ~ 60"