Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-01-19

rather flimsy foundation upon which
to build the policy Of what must have
APPEALED to Washington as the greatest
republic of history. Washington was
elected president-not by unanimous
more than three years after the con-
vention, of which he was president, had
framed the present constitution. The
Office of president received serious con.
sideration at the hands of that body.
The term of Office was fixed at -four
years and there was not word uttered
during all the debates on that question
in favor of making u president inelig-
| ible after serving two terms Had
third term been such grave danger
as modern politicians try to make ap-
pear Washington believe it was, he
would certainly have avoided the dan
ger by writing the limitation into the
constitution itself.
There was certainly more ground for
believing that when the convention
fixed the, term Of four years it meant
that to be the limit for the holder. Yet
Washington had no scruples about tax
! ing double term in office. If he en-
phatically established any precedent
it was that man once elected should
be elected again. But as nation we
have never followed that policy be-
cause the waiting list was too large.
Excluding presidents who died in Of
fee, excepting Lincoln and Mckinley
who We're serving second terms at the
time of their deaths, and counting
Roosevelt one elective term presi-
dent, and also including in the one
term list the present incumbent, nine
presidents have been elected for one
term and nine for two. If to the one
term number are added the first Harri-
son and Tyler, both Of whom died dur
ing their first term there is prepon.
dcrance of one term men. This only
shows tha' fallacy of constructing rule
binding upon the public out of shad-
owsuch as that out of which has come
Pie third term bugaboo.
4 Why did Washington, then, decline
third term, if he did not mean to
set precedents Those who seek to
mellow the color Of the picture say
he was DESTROYS to quit the turmoil of
public life in which he had been par
ticipant for a quarter of century
and return to the repose and comfort
of his great plantation. Those who can
realize the regal splendor of the south.
ern planter Of that time can under.
stand how strong this appeal to the
president must have been. But we are
disposed to follow the policy Of Crom.
well, who told the artist who was to
paint his portrait to "paint me as ]
am; wart and all,' and see if there
was not more rigid reason why the
third term was declined.
Washington's occupancy of the chief
magistracy was. not devoid Of storms
The founders Of the nation were politi
clans as well as patriots. They wanted
Office just as badly as the politicians
of today. The fights were just as bit.
ter, the intrigues just as great, as they
have been since those stirring days
stirring because those who were the
actors made them such. Jefferson, the
leader of the Republicans, the first com
.moner and champion of the masses
wanted to be president. He represent
ed political faith antagonistic to that
represented by Washington and fac
ton that had been rapidly growing
during the eight years of President
Washington. The fight was bitter in
the extreme, and though John Adams
who represented the principles OF
Washington, was elected, he only had
seventy-one votes as against sixty
eight for Jefferson. Washington was
not considered the same unerring mar
in 1896 that he is in 1912. The people
neither believed him the';emb ,diment
of patriotism nor the personifcatior
of virtue. He was to them like othe,
uhlic men. There can be little d6un:
that Washington saw the coming storm
and retired rather than destroy the
name he knew he had made for him
self, in defeat. There is nothing te
show that he ever contemplated third
term. But if he did these things must
have been weighed by him in deciding
his course.
These things are ancient history and
have little interest to the people to.
day, except when they are dug from
the musty cloisters Of time to serve
as precedent for keeping as good a
president as ever filled the Office, save
Lincoln, from serving nation that
demands him.-Grand Forks Times.
--oo-
BUILDING UP NORTH DAKOTA.
There are many ways of building up
North Dakota. AS the state grows old
! IL