The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-02
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS


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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
However much and worthily we may
pride ourselves on ourpolitical institu-
tons and contide in their stability and
permanency, it must nevertheless be
admitted that history does not abound
In promises OF great duration to Repub-
lies formed oil confederated States. o.
all forms OF government heretofore tried,
they have been the most short-lived.
The elements of disruption and dissolu-
Ion lie in the very sources of their or.
ganization, viz: in corrupt elections,
and sectional contentious. The former
spring from inordlnate political ambi-
ffon, either in persons or parties; and
the.latter proceed from mutual jealousies
concerning pecuuiary interests. Both
pf these address themselves so immedi-
ately and so ardently to the emotive
nature OF men as to make them most
formidable factors for the disturbance OF
sivil government founded upon the pop
llar will OF aggregated States.
Just now our own Republic is beset
with both these inirmities; and most
fortunate will it be if it escapes un-
seatbed from the perils they beget. We
must, however, disclaim affiliation with
the alarmists who heedlessIy croak of
war and rumors OF war. We believe in
ne such catastrophe. We admit the
danger to our civil Institutions, but we
refuse to believe that such danger is to
eEentuate, in the present instance, in
any tumultous or revolutionary out
break. The American people are not
fools; and none but fools would in the
present instance, resort to insurrecti n,
that could neither redress anybody nor
remedy anyth ng. And politicians,
whose ambitious hopes may be enlisted
in the present contest, can not fail
to see that political humiliation is the
daom fated to that person or party that
first lifts the hand of violence for the SO.
Iution OF our present dilemma. Conse-
qIently, by now invoking strife, both
the rival interests of sections and the
Political ambition Of parties would
simply invoke ruin upon themselves.
When no other result than this is pos
sible, reasoning men will never resort
to arms as against each other.
We have, nevertheless, in the present
critical condition OF our public affairs
growing out Of the extraordinary cir
eumstances attending the Presidential
election, been shown the danger that
surrounds our government by reason of
infrmities lurking in its organic law, as
touching Presidential elections. That
these dangers have not been heretofore
actually encountered has been alto
gether due to the control of circum.
stances, and not 10 legislative sagacity
or political provision. The debates in
the Convention that formed the Federal
Constitution reveal the prevalence of
two general IDEAS among the leading
minds OF that body bearing upon this
point; the one looking to the election of
She President by direct vote of all the
people, the other by the Intervention of
some deliberatiYe assembly in which
greater calmness and wisdom were pre-
Bumed to reside.
The present plan OF a popular vote in
each State for body OF men to be
known as ELECTORS" by whom the Pres
ident and Vice President should be cho-
sen, was the result of compromise be-
tween those two prevailing ideas in the |
Convention. The insltIiciency of this
electoral system to meet exigencies and
to give just expression to the peoples |
will was long since discovered. Rev
erence for the Constitution, though
twice amended in this regard, has kept
our statesmen back from all action look
ing to a remedy for these infrmities. |
But present circumstances have demon |
straeed that hesitation in providing |
against the recurrence of events just
now SO strangely combined, would be al |
most criminal. Indeed, the universal |
ointment Of the public mind will ere
long demand the Incorporation of suita-
BILE safeguards in the Constitution on
this most vital subject.
While this matter would be under re-
vision, would IL not be the part of wis
dom to consider the expediency of a
complete change in the whole plan Of
Presidential elections, and not attempt
to cure the intrmties by means Of patch
work legislation, which can not fail to
further comphcate the present SYSTEM?
And I'm such rnvisiOn chould mt tho
present plan Of election by "electors" be
entirely abolishedf 1t would be difficult
TO point out any good reason for the in
terposition of any machinery betweeal