Year: 1874




Mr.. Secretary Robson is represented as de-
claring " in private conversation with leading
gentlemen of Paterson that Gen. Grant has
"nO idea of a third term" and regards the
discussion Of that matter as unworthy Of
"nOtice." What Mr.. Robson thinks may be
of more or less consequence to the party in
New Jersey, and it is possible that his private
remarks may have some influence upon the
State campaign. But the unofficial utterances
of Ministers of State have not yet acquired in
this country the significance which Is COM
monty attached to them abroad. 1t is con-
ceivable-we venture the daring suggestion
with hestancy-that Mr.. Robson may not be
fully acquainted with the intentions of Gen.
Grant, nor authorized to speak for his policy.
The Secretary of the Navy is gallant and
breezy gentleman, but his private replies to
the questions of leading citizens of Paterson
have not so much force as the declarations of
regular party conventions like those of Florida
and South Carolina, or the suspicious silence
of the Republicans of New-YOrk.


If President Grant has not already made up
his mind that he does not want third term,
the chances are that he will come to that
resolution pretty soon, when the popular





marked to be disregarded.' But the serious
aspect of the present situation is not in the
real or supposed willingness of the President
to accept third term SO much as in the
willingness of IA powerful faction of the
Republican party-Or rather of the party
managers-tO give it to him. We cannot con-
troll the lawless ambition of individuals. but
we ought to make it practically impossible for
political organizations to defy wholesome
tradition which has almost the force of an
article of the Constitution, and which forms
an essential guarantee for the perpetuity of
our republican institutions. After two State
Conventions have frankly declared themselves
in favor of O third term, and another which
stood in peculiarly close relations with the
leaders of the Administration party has point
edly refused to declare against it; after a score
of Southern politicians have urged it with the
apparent approval of the President and his
friends after the home organ of the Admin
istratiOn has been filed for months with ar
guments in support of it,-Mr. RObesOn's at
tempt to brush the question away with sweep
of the hand is ridiculous failure. No reason
able observer doubts that the movement is a
real one, even though the danger of its success
may seem remote.


For the sake of the future, therefore, if not
for the sake of the present, the Republican
party ought to stamp out this heresy by q
frank and emphatic declaration. If it is not
suppressed now it will return to plague us
hereafter. If the scheme should fail this
time, either by the defeat Of the Republican
party or the determination Of the President at
tho laaf ,,orapf 70 rafira in onnd or1ar hoforo
he is beaten, third-term theory, with all its
wretched consequences, will remain disturb
ing and cOrrupting element in American poll
tics, tempting the virtue of every successive
occupant of the White House, and vexing the
nation with perpetual perils. But let both the
great political parties place themselves squarely
on record as opposed to it, and we shall never
| be troubled with it again.