Year: 1875

that a democratic success in 1876 would be
calamity, if not a danger, to the country.
If he were asked his reasons for such be-
lief and if contrary to his usual custom, he
should speak his mind freely he would
| probably answer that the character and atti-
! tude of most Of the Western democratic lead
ers are not such as to inspire confidence either
in their craftsmanship or their trustworthi-
ness that the adventurer element is too
strong in the democratic party to make their
rule safe ; that their success would encour-
age many of the most dangerous elements in
our politics probably give rise to financial
disturbances and perhaps lead to reckless
legislation, imperilling our credit and
our relations with foreign nations. This,
we say, would probably be General
Grants reply to such question as we have
supposed, and while we do not intend now
to express ourselves upon the matter it is
undoubtedly true that considerable part of
the country agrees with the President In
this lies the main hope of success for the
republicans next year. The democrats have
not gained the confidence Of the country.
At the same time we believe the people are





not inclined to accept the republican party,
unless they see satisfactory reasons to expect
at its hands some important reforms. We
believe there are circumstances under which
they would deliberately prefer the democratic
party next year, and the republicans are
therefore by no means out of danger. If they
are to win they must clear their ship for
action, fling overheard the hencoops and
other trumpery and remove everything
which can be an obstacle to their success.


Among these obstacles, the first, the fore
most, the most misehievous, because it is the
most subtle in its damaging effects, is the
general apprehension of third term. This
rests like great shadow upon the party's
prospects and blights them. There are peo-
pie who try to make light of its injurious
effects but all they can say is that General
Grant does not desire third term, and that
the cry is raised by some of his intimates and
by place-holders who would like the third
term as means of keeping themselves in
comfortable offices. They do not deny, and
nobody can deny, that the shadow the ap-
prehension of third term does daily tend to





makes thousands Of its best members luke
warm ; that it repels other thousands of in
dependent voters who are held away from the
party which they prefer by their fear of third
term intrigues. In short it is now time
for the party to be crystallizing-
but it is still shattered and scattered
it fails to gain the power and force which can
come only of frank, loyal, jealous cohesion
Its leaders cannot arouse enthusiasm for it,
The apathy which republican politicians have
so wofully complained of increases rather
than diminishes. Nor is this surprising
for not only is there q universal alarm at the
thought or mention of third term; not only
is it to-day the most unpopular and hateful
| Of political phrases; but further, the suspi-
/ cion that, whether with General Grants as
sistance or not, there is third term intrigue
on foot, which will make its power felt in
the National Convention, prevents the ablest
leaders of the republican party from putting
I forth their own utmost efforts for its success
next year. These men naturally have their
own ambitions many Of them cherish the
| hope to attain the Presidency, or to
be called under new administration
to important and influential positions
and we do not Aout them for an honorable
ambition. IT. however, they see, or have
reason to suspect, that all their efforts for
the success Of the party may rebound only
to the advantage Of the present incumbent
and his adherents, their zeal is inevitably
cooled.


Thus IN several ways the third term spec
tire remains, constant injury and danger to
the republicans. Ought it any longer to be
so? 1t is quite possible that General Grant
may think it beneath his dignity to check,
by personal commands or interference, the
speeches and intrigues of his too jealous
friends nor, indeed, could he, in detail,
stop the mouth Of every superserviceable
hanger-on Of the White House. He has
other business TO attend to. But there is
one way in which he can summarily put an
end to the third term talk, and it is the
method which we here respectfully suggest
to him.


If he should in his annual Message to
Congress declare positively his determine
tion on no account nor under any circum-
stances to be candidate for another term Of
the Presidency he would at one effort clear
the sky and remove one of the most serious
dangers which now threaten the republican
party He would infuse a new spirit into
\ the party and would bring back to it q
multitude Of voters who now hold aloof and
strengthen the hopes of the democrats and
would set at work with freshened zeal every
energy within his party. Nor would he
have to SO far to seek words in which to
clothe his refusal II is not necessary that
he should, as in his letter Of last summer,
assert the right Of the people to re-elect him
if they choose that is beside the question.
1t is not needful that he shall enter upon q