The Columbus journal., 1910-11-23
THIRD TERMS.

In no other country than the United
States is there any prejudice against
retaining the services Of the highest
public official as long as he represents
the principles of a majority Of the
voters. Gladstone, for instance, was
four times prime minister of England
and nobody suggested that be was try.
ing to make himself the autocrat Of
Great Britain. For of course it is
intrinsically absurd to entertain such
a belief in the case of a man whose
power comes solely from the expressed
approval of his fellow citizens.
In the United States the prejudice
against the third term fer Presidents
dates back to the early years of the
government. Washington established
the precedent by declining a third
nomination and there is a widespread
idea that he refused it in compliance
with deep conviction that third terms
should not be countenanced.
The fact, however, is that the sole
reason urged by Washington was that
of personal disinclination for further
public service. He felt that he had
done all that could be reasonably ex-
pected of him for his country and that
he was entitled to few years Of rest.
In his farewell address he said he had
hoped to retire at the end of his first
term, but he had yielded to the advice
of friends who felt that he ought not
to give up office in the critical condi-
ton of Americas foreign relations. 81
rejoice" he continued, that the state
of your concerns, external as we'll as
internal, no longer renders the pursuit
of inclination incompatible with the
sentiment of duty or propriety; and am
persuaded, whatever Partially may be
retained for my services, that, in the
present circumstances of our country,
you will not disspprove my determine
ton to retire."
Toward the end of Adams's admin.
istration, when it was evident that the
Federalist party was rent by dissen.
sions, and would probably be defeated,
Washington's friends again urged him
to become a candidate. But he re-
fused. If he could accomplish a great
public good by running for Office he
would do so, but he felt certain that
other Federalists could be found who
would run as we'll as he.
The anti third term principle was
formulated by Jefferson, not Washing.
ton, though Jefferson pleaded Wash.
ington's example in its support. When
he was asked to become a candidate
for a third nomination to the service
of the chief magistrate be not fixed by
the constitution or supplied by prac.
tice, his Office, nominally for years,
will in fact become one for life: and
history shows how easily that degener-
ates into an inheritance"
There is reason to believe, however,
that Jefferson was hunting for argu.
ments to support his own inclinations.
He was better adapted to be a political
counselor than to be an executive, and
the Presidency had become distastefnl
to him. His administration was end.
ing in gloom, and the war with Eng.
land was even then impending. These
considerations certainly helped him to
the conclusion that no President should
serve more than two terms. In 1912
friends urged him to become a candi-
date on the ground that in the ap-
preaching crisis the country needed a
stronger executive than Madison. To
them he declined on the ground of
advanced age and Washington's
example.
Its rather curious that the personal
inclinations of two men a century ago
should have established q sentiment
that still has weight with the countrv