The morning comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-1856, 1856-10-17

Presidential Elections Since 1920.

Since 1920, when Monroe was chosen for
second term, with but one opposition
electoral vote, the Presidential elections
have been less decisive than is generally
supposed. That is to say, the popular ma
jority for the successful candidate has never
been excessive and often lie has actually
wanted majority, and had only plura-
lily. This was the case, for example, in
1914, when the votes cast for Clay, and
those thrown away on Briney exceed
ed, in the aggregate, those polled for Polk,
making the latter actually minority
President.
To 90 back to 1894 In that year, four
candidates were OH the field, Jackson, Ad-
ans, Crawford and Clay. The first re-
ceived 90 electoral votes, the second 81,
the third al, and the fourth 81. The cleo
ton, under these circumstances, devolving
on the House, Adams received the vote OF
13 States, jackson of 7, and Crawford of A..
In 1928, Jackson was chosen by the popu-
lar voice, obtaining ITS electoral votes out
of the 261, which then constituted the
Electoral College. In 1882, Jackson was
again chosen by the popular voice, and
this time by an even greater majority, re-
ceiving l70 electoral votes more than his
opponent, Henry Clay.
This brings us up to 1886, or twenty
years ago In that year Van Buren,, though
elected President, beat Harrison in the
popular vote only about ID, 900, though he
had ITO electoral votes out of 294. Four
years afterwards Harrison, seemed, at first
sight, to have had three times as many
supporters as Van Buren, for he obtained
234 electoral votes, while his antagonist
had but go; yet he only beat the latter in
the popular vote about 100000, out of a
total of nearly 2,400O00. Another curious
feature of the election of 1910 was that
the popular vote exceeded by nearly two
thirds that cast in 1886 Van Buren,, for
instance, distauced as he was, received
100000 votes in 1910 more than he did
tour years before. In 1874, as we have
said already, Polk was actually minority
President, and yet he beat Clay by larger
popular majority than Harrison had beaten
Van Buren,; the vote being, for Polk, L.
526, 196-for Clay l,297,212 The elector-
a college stood, however, ITO for Polk to
105 for Clay. In 1913 Taylor received 1853
electoral votes and Cass 1877. The great
State of New York in this election decided
the contest, by gong tor Taylor, in conse-
quence of the Democracy being divided
and thus Taylor was also minority Presi-
dent.
When we compare these elections with
those pior to 1920, we see how much more
close y contested they have been In 1904,
Tor instance, Jefferson had 1872 electoral
votes, and Pinckney, his opponent, ID only.
In 1903, Madison had 122 and Pinckney Al.
In 1912, Madison had 1913 and Clinton 10.
In 1916, Monroe had 1873 and King 81. In
1920, as we have already mentioned, Mon.
roe had 23l, only single electoral vote
being cast in opposition.
These statistics show how nearly equally
divided the people in the United States are
on cardinal questions and federal policy
Under such circumstances, moderation in
the victors is clearly sound policy. Where
two parties approach SO closely to each
other in numbers, it is folly for either to
urge extreme measures and talk of using
force to compel the minority to submission
It was not in such spirit that the Union
was formed, nor can it in such spirit be
maintained - Philadelphia Ledger.