Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-24
THIRD TERM MEDALS THEN AND

No".
When the republican party pro-
posed to nominate General Grant for
a third term, the Chicago Tribune bit
terly opposed the movement. After
the republican convention had refused
General Grant a third nomination,
medals were struck for the 300 dele
gates who voted for General Grant on
80 consecutive ballots. The Chicago
TribUae at that time ridicu.ed the
"Old Guard" and its medals and again
denounced the third term movement
and the effort which was made to con-
fer an honor upon General Grant
which had been denied to all of his
predecessors. Now, the Chicago Trib-
une is advocating the election of Theo-
dore Roosevelt as president for a third
term. When the Chicago Tribune was
opposed to the third term movement
and when it ridiculed the 300 medal
wearers it printed the following ed
itorial under date of July l, 1882:
Titles and decorations have never
been regarded with favor by the peo-
pie of the United States. The preju-
dice against baubles of this descrip-
/ ton was so decided in the early days
/ of the republic that the trainers of the
constitution asserted in that instru-
ment the provision that no title of
nobility shall be granted by the United
States and also that no person hold
ing any office of profit or trust shall
] NrvgV1 J., h.
/ cept any present, emOlumeht, Office,
or title of any kind whatever from any
king, prince or foreign state AS a
result of this rule and the practice of
the people which II has Influenced, the
number of persons is exceedingly linn
tied who 90 about with ribbons in
their buttonholes and medals hanging
on the lapels of their coats. There
are some decorations which were
earned by gallant service in the cause
of the union to which the possessors
may point with pride, and which they
may wear without ostentation. There
are others which denote foreign ap-
probation OF the American inventive
faculty, and testify to good service in
the common benefit of mankind. To
these rare and valuable specimens
Of decoration have now been added
the 3O6 medals which have been dis
tributed among the old guard which
stood out solidly for Grant in the Chi.
cago convention. President Arthur
will probably wear his medal on state
. mi
principle Rev. Mr.. Hicks may
have donned his for the first time
yesterday in assisting at the execu,
ton of Guitesu.
THE notion Of celebrating the da
feat OF the third term moveme.: b.
the distribution OF medals among
those who sustained ii was not alto.
gether happy, though happier for the
American people than If the aforesaid
medals celebrated the success OF that
movement Just how the possessors
; of these medals are going TO razr
any pride IN them is not easy TO IN
derstand. They represent an idea
which was condemned by the Ameri
can people. viz: the proposed Invasion
OF the solemn precedent against &
third term IN the presidential Office
Further than this, they represent ar
element IN American politics which
has been visited with equal popular
oonderanation-the element OF boss
, IAN, The SUCCESS OF the third tern
movement depended upon the manipu
latioh and control OF the convection.
OF three great states-New York, Penn
/ EyiVahis and Illinois. The respectiv.
! bosses did their work thoroughly ant
; marshaiisd their de,esatss IN tn
! Chicago convention under ironolad IN
, struotionA. Thsre they encountered