Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-07
Niember Of Associated Press
Nh Third Term for Any President.


rtisn not surprising, in careful oonsidera-
tion Of the stirring public events Of the
past seven years, both here and abroad,
that the subject az third continuous term
fcr President Of the United States should
b, considered more seriously than AZ any
time since an offer that undoubtedly
would have been tantamount 70 5 sue
c..ssflli outcome was tentatively made 10
George Washington. The Father Of
Fis Country" refused, courteously but
firmly, to listen to any suggestion Of this
character, and il has since been held that
thereby he laid down an unwritten Law, not
tp be violated ever thereafter.
From the time Of Washingtons retire
rent to this DAY, it may be said, the sub
iect never was considered. Jefferson,
Madison and Monroe retired at the end
of their two terms each with no intlIna-
ton Of desire for continuance, not even
Monroe entertaining the idea, despite
his practically unanimous reelection, just
a century ago, which took place n history
IS ..the era Of good feeling" Andrew
jackson, probably the most politically
powerful az All our Presidents-unlcss
,xocption may be made IN respect q MIR
Roosevelt did not put forth the slightest
effort in the direction Of third term, con
-cnting himself with practically debating
the choice Of his SUCCESSOR Mr. Roosevelt
was 3 candidstc for what would technical
ly have boen third term, but was dc
ieated IN popular election.
But the record of the past seven years,
or wricd with events of the greatest inn
rs1rtancc to the entire world, naturally
has operated 10 incline the minds q
many citizens 70 consideration Of the
propriety of a third term for President
Wilson. That he has proved one of the
greatest of cur Presdrnts-the man Tor
the times as emrhaticslly as was Wash
incton or Linculn-is conceded even by
pa-tisap enemies. When the history Of
.he Crest War Is written and the critical
position Of our country throughout that
titanic struggle Of arms. ending with /
active and decisive participation Is duly /,
considered. the greatness Of President /
Wilson in 80 directing the course Of our i
government As to keep US out Of the war
Until the right time arrived for taking
rart will be universally recognized His /
tory also VIII record and acknowledge the /.
p-e-crninent part he took IL the peace +
deliberations following that greatest Of al /
wars. and the wisdom and force Of bis /.
counsels.
But even II the light q ;hls wonderful
record. il ls doubtful il there would have +
hecn any serious consideration Of Mr.. /
Wilson for another term had i not been /!
for The attitude oi the partisan leaders Of q /
Congress lcstile TO the administration
during almost all Of last year, and still in /
continuance. The prompt ratification of F..
the Treaty os Peace and the League Of !
Nations Covenant would have LEFT hir. /
Wilson ID the position Of u great President I
calmly snd appropriately drawing near
10 the end o. !, surpTisl z ~ n bril- .
hsntly, notable and successful admins
'-atior including among Its leading Gle
uents successful and important partici-
patton IN : world war. with al questions
arising therefrom appropriately settled
aad the country entering upon an era of
world peace with the most assuring prom
ises for the future. BUT the failure Of the
Irea-v end the League 10 receive the
.anct!on OF the Senate has left the after
u1ath OF the great war II 3 sadly muddled
state, with uncertainty instead Of settle
menr, an uncertainty that viii continue
70 vex the country and de'a the re-
Of Z complete wor d peace az
long as the Senate maintains lts recent
attitude This, IL word i why there is
talk OF third term for President Wilson
: matter of justice TO him and Of possible
benefit to the country and the world by
keeping hlm in the Office until his great
work shall be crowned BY successful
ending
But not even this issue, winch i based
Ipon some appealing grounds of lustice
and piopriety. should be considered favor
lUiy by our people Nor viii il be. We are
,urc, notwithstanding the nigh opinion
q winch Alr Wilson i justly held by q
neat majority oi his fellow -oountryInen
ly reason Of his magnificent services to
he people and u the word The oppcsi-
lon 70 third term Tor any President il of
ong standing and is deeply rooted. II
you'd have met with opposition in respect
i Washington although probably be
you'd have been successful. But sii4ce his
lay i has. silently bur surely. operated
gainst even The suggestion of j third term
Or any other President 4 great effort
yas made Ii behalf of President Grant.
III that came after he had Z tired 4t the
lose Of biz second tern At which time