The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-11-12
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SINCE 1890.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SINCE 1890.
Since 1890, when Monroe was chosen for
a second term, with but one opposition cleo
toral vote, the presidential elections have
been less decisive than i generally supposed,
That is to say, the popular majority for the
successful candidate has never been Excess
sive and often he has actually wanted for
majority, and had only plurality. This was
the case, for example, in l844, when the votes
were cast for Clay and those thrown away
on Birney, exceeded in the aggregate. those
polled for Polk, making the latter actually
minority President.
To 20 back to 1894 In that year, four
candidates were in the field, Jackson, Ad.
ans. Crawford and Clay. The first received
80 electoral votes. the second 81. the third
Al, and the fourth 81. The election under
these circumstances devolving on the House,
Adams received the vote OF IS States, Jack
SON Of Z, and Crawford Of 4.
In 1898. Jackson was chosen by the pop
ular Voice, obtaining 11S electoral votes out
Of the 26l which then constituted the electo-
raj colleges In 1882 Jackson was again cho.
sen by the popular voice, and this time BY an
even greater majority, receiving ITO electo-
raj votes more than his opponent Henry
CLAY.
This brings us up to 1886. or twenty years
ago. In that year, Van Buren,, though cleo
ted President. beat Harrison in the popular
vote only about $4,000, though he had ITO
electoral votes out Of 294. Four years after
wards. Harrison seemed. at first sight, to
have had three times as many supporters Al
Van Buren,. TOR he obtained 234 electoral
votes, while his antagonist had but 60; yet
he only beat the latter in the popular vote
about 100, 900, out Of a poll Of nearly 2.400,
600. Another curious feature Of the election
of lS4O was that the popular vote exceeded
BY nearly two thirds that cast in 1886. Van
buren,, for instance, distanced as he WAS. re-
ceived 364, 900 votes in 1910, more thln he
did four years before.
10 1874. as we have said already, Polk was
actually minority President, and vet he beat
Clay BY a larger popular majority than Harri-
son had beaten Van Buren, the vote being
for Polk, 1856. lS6-for Clay 1885,, 2ls
The electoral college stoud, however, l70 for
Polk, TO los for Claw. In lS4S raylor re
ceised 1865 electoral yotes aud Cass l27
The great State Of New York in this election
decided the contest. BY goi6g for Taylor. in
consequence Of the ,lenocrac, being divided
and thus Taylor was also minority Presi'
dent.
When we compare these elections with
those prior 10 1924. we see how much more
closely contested they have been. In 1904,
for instance, Jefferson had SO electoral votes
and Pinkney, his opponent, "a only. II
1903. Madison had l2l and Pinckney A
Ia 1912 Madison had 1873 and Clinton 80
10 1916. Monroe had 1855 and King 81. III
1920. as We have already mentioned. Mon.
roe had Isl, only single electoral vote be-
Ing cast in opposition.
These statistics show hov nearly equally
divided the people IN the United States arr
on cardinal questions and federal policy
I Under such circumstances, moderation IN
The sietors is clearly sound policy. Where
tan parties approach % closely 10 each 9th,
~ in numbers, il is fully for either 10 urg,
extreme measures and talk Of using fore,
10 compel The minority to submission. i
was not in such spirit that the union wa,
Turned. nor can il III such spirit be main
tanned. Philadelphia Ledger.