The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-02
SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL TERMS.

Every presidential campaign has
certain aspects which differontlate II
from others. The one closing today Is
and has peen remarkable for the fact
that the president whose term 10 near
its end has been perhaps the chief
issue In the contest. He has now
served nearly eight years. long enough
In normal circumstances 10 arouse many
personal antagonisms, But circum-
stances have not been normal. A
great war has been fought and many
unusual. disturbing elements have as a
consequence been injected into our poll
tics. Settlement OF the issues involved
In the great world struggle has Afforded
n fruitful bone OF contention.
II Ia not the purpose here, however,
10 review the war issues or the peace
settlement. Suffice II TO say that re-
publican managers and orators have
concentrated their fire on Mr.. Wilson,
who 10 not candidate, instead Of upon
Cox, who In a candidate. This has not
been the case because Cox Ia not foe.
man worthy Of their steel. but because
| Of their desire 20 capitalize the resent.
ment and Irritation which has been
created here and there against the presN
ident. A war gives unusual occasion
| for the play Of such resentment and
| personal enmities, but we believe.
nevertheless, that they are always more
pronounced against q president serving
u second term.
Wilson has been denounced a. a
l tyrant. an egoist and many other un-
lovely things. He has been charged
with attempting 70 absorb within his
own control all functions OF the gov
eminent As already observed, a war
furnishes favorable occasion for such
| agitation. Madison, In the war OF 1873,
| Polk, IN the Mexican war. and Lincoln,
| In the Civil war, were all made tar.
| gets OF similar attacks. Charges OF
| nrrogating klnRly authority were made
In all those cases. This results largely
from the harsh measures which II has
always been thought necessary "a
adopt in q time OF war. Tho ex-
pediency and necessity OF such steps
have always been fercely contested and
bitterness has invariably resulted,
II was not this aspect, however, that
We had In mind In starting 10 write
this article. The personal Issue in-
cidentally referred TO In, In large
| measure, trRceable TO the second preEi-
dental term. The longer a president
directs the affairs OF the country the
more familiar he becomes with them
Unconsciously. perhaps, he IN less In
olined TO consult with others. Of -hii
own or the opposite party, He also
becomes less tolerant OF opposition. lie
frames his program and demands "a
enactment. II is needless to remark
that this arouses antagonlsm regard
lees Of the Righteousness Of tho presI'
dents course And such RntaEonisn
nearly always takes on a personal coll
orinF
Such characteristics as we have out
lined above were much in evidence dur
ing the second terms Of PRESIDENT
Cleveland ana Roosevelt Both OF thel.
first terms were successful and more
or less unevcntful but their SECOND
terms were accompanied by much agi'
tation and many personal issues In th'
politics az the country There wal
much financial and industrial oifsatis
| faction which was doubtless Irgra
waited by the disturbed political con
ditions Both these presidents wcr'
as savagcbly d denounced as Mr. WI