Year: 1874

The elaborate paper which we print In an
other part of The TRIBUNE this morning ex-
plains clearly the vast significance of the
movement for q second reelection of the
President of the United States. "Gen. Wash
"ington,p wrote Jefferson, "set the example
"of voluntary retirement after eight years. l
" shall follow it. And few more precedents
"will oppose the obstacle of habit to
"any one after while who shall endeavOr
to extend his term" eff some period be
"not fixed,n he says in another letter, "either
"by the Constitution or by practice, to the
services of the First Magistrate, his Office,
"though nominally elective will in fact be
I" for life and that will soon degenerate into
can inheritance.n So for nearly a hundred
years the precedents of Washington and JEFF
ferson have been respected, and this usage"
as Chancellor Kent says, "has indirectly estab-
"lshed by the force of public opinion sal


"utary limitation to the Presidents capacity for
continuance in office.n But to-day for the first
time this unwritten law of the nation is dis
regarded, and an intrigue is on foot to force
the country into a step which must inevitably
lead to radical changes in our political insti-
tutions.


The American people have not demanded a
third term for President Grant There is
nothing in the condition of the country to
give any color of excuse for such departure
from established custom. The movement owes
its origin and strength entirely to selfish per-
sonal schemes, and not politician of high
character in any part of the Union will avow
himself in favor of it. Yet the dullest OBJ
server can see that the movement is
real one. A large party in the
South openly promises Gen. Grant a renomi-
nation as the price of a veto of the Civil
Rights BILL Journals which boast of the most
intimate relations with the Administration
have been promoting the project with all
their little strength. The personal friends and
associates of the President sustain it heartily.
Men supposed to influence opinion in various
sections are admitted to his study or his table,
and come away clamorous for his reelection
Against all this the President has never said
one word of remonstrance. He still gives his
unrestricted confidence to the people who are
urging him to violate the traditions of the
Republic and set up precedent which sooner
or later must surely prove fatal to our repre-
sentative form of government. rH


In the present temper of the public mind
tDere Is OI COuloo uV piOudpiilty tudt JUL.
Grant will be renominated by any regular
party organization, still less is there any
prospect of his reelection. But the mere fact
that his nomination for third term is seri-
ously urged, the mere fact that President
of the United States lends himself to any
such dangerous and revolutionary project, may
well fill patriotic citizens with alarm. The
discussion of such plan. the very suggestion
that it is an open question, is peril in itself.
The scandal must be put out of sight at once.
The plot must be denounced so promptly and
plainly by both political parties that 1t may
never raise its head again. few OF the Con-
ventions have already spoken. We look for an
unequivocal declaration from all the Others
yet to be held, and in particular we call upon
the Democratic and Administration parties of
the great State OF New-York to put upon
record their solemn Judgment that 1t is incon-
sistent with the genius and traditions OF tho