Year: 1874

Il S<Ss%So WAAkSA W0 PkinS AAOtu exO pun
l.c journals Of the country. although they are
but small portion Of what might be given,
prove that the third term discussion is now VI
Its height and that it has never at any pre-
vious time excited such widespread interest.
No observing politician can doubt that it ia
fatally damaging the republican party; but il
Is load which the party will continue to
stagger under. The republicans might easily
have shaken it of could they have induced
either General Grant himself or Governor Dix
to make an emphatic declaration on this sub
ject at an early day. But the opportunity
slipped by General Grant would not and
Governor Dix dared not set the question at
rest. Grants studied and stubborn silence
proves too incontestably that he cherishes
third term aspirations II he had
cared more for the success of the
republican party than for his own stealthy
strides toward imperial power he would
long ago have spoken the easy word which
would have extinguished the third term ques-
ton as an issue in our present politics Gov
emor Dixs reticence is even more inexcus-
able The Utica platform did not bind him
to silence. It said nothing on the subject,
and, therefore, lett him free-as all candidates
are always free-to svow his sentiments on
any question not included in the platform on
which he was nominated. The fact that
statesman of the supposed independence Of
Governor Dix did not venture to make declar-
alton which would have so greatly strength
cd 10 nov1 ru ~sor,nsv ~OF <,T
the dominating influence of the occupant Of
the White House. If he can subdue states
man like Dix into abject silence what bounds
can be set to his power of coercion in the re-
publican party2


Governor Dix has, indeed, said to HERALD
reporter, as stated in our columns yesterday,
that he does not favor q third term, but he
processes his disbelief that any such idea was
ever entertained by General Grant. Such pro-
fession discredits either his sagacity or his
courage. He is blind to the signs of the
times if he thinks Grant does not harbor such
an aspiration, and he is untrue to his own
convictions and the interest of his party if,
believing that Grant would like q third term,
he dares not withstand his dangerous am
bition. The fact that man like Dix shufaes
and trims on great question which involves
the perpetuity Of our free institutions is
one Of the most alarming features Of the
situation. If tho meat our Cesar feeds on
has enabled him to grow SO great that popu-
lar candidate for the governorship Of the most
important State in the Union feels compelled
<o t~o&a sr L.
C@sar's pretensions. we are not only on the
brink but in the very jaws Of portentous
peril If our country is still free why should
man like Dix stand in trembling awe of
man like Grant2 Dix tries to shield himself
behind the plea that Grant does not want
third term. This will not do. Grant would
be glad of third term if he could get it, and
he has every facility for controlling the repub-
lcan nomination. He can easily pack the
National Convention by means Of his enor-
nous patronage, and if he gets the nomina-
ton the republican party will support him.
Even the recent adverse elections have not
extinguished his hopes, and nobody can fore
see what desperate measures he may resort to
to secure third election when success would
put him on the road to those most tempting
objects of human ambihon-a crown and
dynasty. There is great deal in the present
situation of affairs to reconcile such aspira-
tons to General Grants conscience The
growing corruption of our great cities, sup
ported by abuses of the elective franchise,
and the real relief which imperialism would
bring TO the Southern States from the evils of
negro supremacy, would reconcile large sec
tions of our population to a change in the
form Of our government. The principle Of
universal suffrage has been pushed to an ex-
treme which makes it hideous caricature;
and Grant, who is not lacking in shrewdness,
counts on o natural reaction. The miserable
fdsco in which the reform movement in this
city has resulted gives the same kind of en-
couragement to Imperialism which is afforded
by the fruits of universal negro suffrage In
the South. Grant relies upon growing feeling
that the corruption in our Northern cities and
the disorder which reigns in consequence of
universal suffrage in the South might be ex-
changed with advantage for the equitable rule
of q just monarch. By an energetic stretch of
his power he does not despair OF securing o
third election; and that once accomplished
the remaining steps to q consolidated impe-
rialism would not be difficult


In spite Of the rebuke administered by the
recent elections the third term project is not
abandoned. The fact that leading republican
statesmen dare not vigorously oppose it attests
the ascendancy which General Grant has al
ready gained in his own party. He still holds
on and trusts to the chapter Of accidents to
help him through. There are yet two years
before the Presidential election, and with q
strong confidence in the marvellous luck
which has already advanced him beyond his
most sanguine expectations General Grant has
no idea of relinquishing his aspirations. His
sycophants have told him that the country
4