The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-04-24
THE QUESTION OF A THIRD TERN

i ter OF practlcal pOiltlcss the question
has always been, and ss now. not
whether IT is advisable to have the
same president three times in success.
sion. but whether It is advisable TO
give him three terms even with an in.
termission
TO this question, as to almost all
public questions. there are two sides,
either one OF which may be sincerely
held and strongly argued. For the
benefit OF Companion readers. the ar
gument on both sides are here briefly
summarized.
In the first place, no one pretends
that any thing stands in the way of a
third term. even consecutive third
term, except custom and tradition. 1t
is known that Washington retired after
eight years Of service merely because
he was worn-out and wanted rest; and
there is no evidence to show that,
when he was urged to succeed Presi.
dent Adams. he obiected-if he OBJ
jected at all--on any ground of prin-
ciple, Again. it Is admitted that when
General Grant was proposed for a third
term, large number Of eminent and
patriotic men not only saw no objec-
tion to the proposal, but urged his
election with earnestness and enthu.
siasm. And, indeed, 1t may be con
tended with much force that the coun-
| try is not wise, but foolish. If it refuses
to avail itself of the services OF any
man whom it regards as the best
qualified to fill position, even the
highest. merely because there is a
tradition unsupported by anything in
the constitution or any written law
that he must not occupy hat position
for more han eight years @}
On the other side it may be pointed
out that although the custom has no
legal force, It rests on something more
than mere sentimental reverence for
the example of Washington, or the
blind conservatism that clings to an
old custom simply because it is old
At the very beginning of the govern
meut there was strong sentiment in
favor OF limiting d president, not mere
| ly TO two terms, but to one long term.
Jefferson who originally favored a
single term of seven years. ultimately
came to believe that two terms OF four
years were better, but should not be
exceeded In every one Of his annual
messages General jackson urged con
gress to propose an amendment to the
|constitution prescribing such a limlta-
|tion; and as an indication of the view
of the question held by the able South
erners In Congress just before the war
it may be noted that the constitution
of the Confederate states actually did
limit the president to one term, al
though the term was heightened to six
years
Behind this belief that two terms or
eight years should be the limit has al
ways been the fear that dictatorship
or a monarchy might be established.
Those who have this fear point out
that the president of the United States
has more power than most monarchs
r. power that might easily be used
by strong and ambitious man great
ly to tighten his hold upon the Office
Whenever the people come to think
that there is only one man among the
millions of our population who can
save the country or can carry out the
measures that they want carried out.
and feel that he must have a third and
perhaps fourth term. they are peril
ously near the state of mind that gives
to dictators their opportunity and their
excuse II is evident that if man
We're to succeed to power as a result
OF the assumption by the people that
he is essential to their salvation. he
would assume Office with far greater
authority tha nthat which the Ameii-
can people have hitherto given to their
presidents.
No one things, OF course. that any
one is ambitious to become dictator
or that any group OF persons wish tae
country to be ruled by one The op-
pouents Of the third term merely he
lieve that since continual reelection
is the only possible path to dictartor-
shin, that path had better be blocked
For that purpose they regard tue ira
dition against the third term as of
value. Youths Companion.
When Every Man Was an Enemy.
During the medieval period doors
were small and narrow, so that only