The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-17

has not been taken without strict re-
 gard to all the considerations appertain- ing to the relations which bind dutiful
 citizen to his country: and that in with
 drawing the tender of service. which sil- ence in my situation might imply, l am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness,
 but am supported by full conviction
 that the step is compatible with both. On December 10 he Senate voted an ad- dress to George Washington the Pres ident of the United States" closing with these words.
 '.The most effectual consolation that can offer for the loss we are about to
 sustain arises from the animating reflec- ton that the influence of your example
 will extend to your successors, and the United States thus continue to enjoy an
 able, upright and energetic administra- , tion;', and the House of Representatives on December 15:
 For our countrys sake. for the sake of republican liberty, 1t is our earnest wish that your example may be the guide of your successors, and thus, after being
 the ornament and safeguard of the pres ent age, become the patrimony of our descendants"
 Jefferson's Refusal
 Jefferson, when besought by the legis- lature of Vermont to accept a third term replied, under date of scember 10, 1851. as forroWs:
 That I should lay down my charge at
 proper period Is as much a duty as to
 have borne it faithfully. If some termln-
 alton to the services of the chief magis- trate be not fixed by the constitution, or supplied by practice. his office, nominally for years, will in fact become for life.
 and history shows how easily that degen- crates into an inheritance. Believing that representative government responsible at short periods of election Is that which produces the greatest sum of happiness to mankind, l feel 1t duty to do no act which shall essentially impare that principle and I would unwillingly be the person who disregarding the sound prece- dent set by an illustrous predecessor should furnish the first example of pro- longation beyond the second term of or- fice.
 On January 27, 1892. in Springfield, H.. Abraham Lincoln sai6 Ambitious men
 will spring up who will find no gratifica- ton in supporting and maintaining an edifice that has been erected by others. Towering geuins disdains a beaten path It seeks regions hitherto unexplored. It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor however illustrious. It throbs and burns for distinction, and if possible, i
 When such man appear 1t will re-
 quire the people 10 be united with each
 other, attached to government and laws,
 and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs.
 "Distnetion will be his paramount ob- ject, and although he will as willingly perhaps more so-acquire it by doing good as harm, yet that opportunity being pres-
 ent and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down.
 Emulating the example of all these men, great in the history of our country, Theo- dore Roosevelt. on November 8, 1904. is- sued this carefully phrased statement: "On the 4th of March next I shall have served three and one-half years and this three and one-half years constitutes my first term The wise custom which limits the President to two terms regards the substance and not the form, and under no circumstances will I be candidate for or accept another nomination.
 One of these great men, alas. has proven to be the man of whom Lincoln prophesied in his masterful address at Springfield, January 27, 1892. and the dan
 ger threatening our republican institu- tions by inference has become real-
 ity and this amendment to the consti-
 tuition should become law, forever set
 ting at rest this vexatious question.