The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-10-21
Presidential Elections since 1870

Since 1920, when Monroe was chosen fol
| n second term, with but one opposition
| electoral vote, the Presidential elections
have been less decisive than is gener.
ally supposed. That is to say. the popu-
lar majority for the successful candidate
| has never been excessive aud often he has
| actually wanted a majority, and had only a
| plurality. This was the case, for example
| in l84I. when the votes east for Clay, and
those thrown away on Birney, exceeded, in
the aggregate, those polled for Polk, ma
king the latter actually minority Prcsi-
dent.
To 90 back to 1924. In that year, four
candidates were in the field, Jackson, Ad-
ans, Crawford and Clay. The first receiv-
ed 90 electoral votes, the second 81, the
third H. and the fourth 81. The election,
under these circumstances, devolving on
the House, Adams received the vote of l3
States, jackson of 7, and Crawford of j..
In 1928, Jackson was chosen by the popu-
lar voice. obtaining Us electoral votes out
of the 26I, which then constituted the Elec-
toral College. In 1892, jackson was again
chosen by the popular voice, and this time
by an even greater majority, receiving 10
ELECTORAL votes more than his opponent,
Henry Clay.
This brings sup to 1896, or twenty years
ago. In that year Van Buren,, though elect
ed President, beat Harrison in the popular
vote only about 14,000, though he had 10
ELECTORAL votes out of 294. Four years af-
terwards Harrison seemed, at first sight,
to have had three times as many supporters
as Van Buren,, for he obtained 234 elector-
al votes, while his antagonist had but 60;
yet he only beat the latter, in the popular
vote, about one hundred and sixty thousand,
out of a poll of nearly two millions four
hundred thousand. Another curious feature
of the election of 164O was that the popular
vote exceeded by nearly two thirds that cast
in 1886. Van Buren,, forinstance, distanced
as he was, received 364,000 votes in 1910
more than he did four years before. In
1874, as We have said already, Polk was
actually minority Presidents; and yet he
beat Clay by larger majority than Harris
on had beaten Van Buren,: the vote being,
for Polk 1876, 1876, for Clay 1897, ,2I2.-
The electoral college stood. however, 40
tor POLK to Iuo tor Clay. In 1919 IaylOr
received l63 electoral votes, and Cass I27.
TIE great State of New York in this cleo
ion decided the contest, by going for Tay
lOr, in consequence of the democracy being
divided and thus Taylor was also mnori-
ty President.
When we compare these elections with
those prior to 1920, we see how much more
closely contested they have been. In 1904,
for instance, Jefferson had 162 electoral
votes, and Pinckncy, hisopponent, IA only.
In 1903, Madison had I22, and Pinckney
AZ. In 1912, Madison had l2S and Clinton
80. In 1916, Monroe had I83 and King 81.
In 1920, as we have already mentioned,
Monroe had 23l, only single electoral vote
being cast in opposition.
These statistics show how nearly equally
divided the people Of these 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.
1t was not i'll such spirit that the Union
was formed, nor can it in such spirit be