The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-08
Anew P,.. for P-s.,aen,,., E,e.,,o..

A pamphlet OF 1871 pages, entitled M
Electro Franchise ~ The Uiuied States. by d. C.
MCMILLAN "a. p. Putnams Sonsl. presents q
new plan for electing the President. decidedly
different from any other that has come TO our
notice. The author. who dates his preface at
Kingston In this State holds that n perfect sys-
tenn OF election consists in tho performance Of
two distinct acts by the voter: one being his as
sertion OF a common belief with the millions o.
his own party who want the Government con.
Quoted according 10 their political views; the
other being his selection OF honest and compe-
tent officers 10 put these principles into prac-
tice. The frst OF these acts is performed when
ever person votes the ticket of his party: but
Mr.. Mcmillan complains. with much force that
the voter is practically deprived OF any real in
nuence In choosing out from among his follow
men those who are 10 administer the Govern.
ment by the action Of primary meetings eau.
cuses. and nominating conventions. And Il is
undoubtedly true that under the existing sys-
tenn Of nominating and electing public officers
in this country. large numbers Of men some
times vote for candidates whom they dislike
and whom they themselves would never have
chosen TO represent their views. being induced
to support such candidates. however, by the
knowledge that their neglect 70 do So will con.
tribute to the success OF their political op-
poncnts.
As a remedy for what he concciyes 70 be the
objections in our present electoral system, the
author proposes the following plan. which We
give In his own words:
/ Congress shall provide for holding two Convention
dent and Vice rres dSnt' When con,an''on, .hai J,
STYLED rcspecuNcy thc FIRST Pee 'ti"nual '9nNcnu.n
u each state slai appoint TO enrl OF such ton'cnuvm
Il number Of delegates equal tn m, whole hunhf
kt Ia j f|t 10
entitled IN Congress IN n7roinuns such 'etihi'' 'lh
soils equal to IA, numhcr 10 be Appointed Ia "uA onr9
such conventions and, upon the nrst emil u uhuc' me
uted IN one Convention, receiving ilc l"fe, +, numl,n
OF votes shall he chosen 90 such Convention ana ~.
persons. equal IN number. Receiving the nest Mr-ci
number of votes shall be- chus"n g. the opposite ,.tn
II Th, d'irtat.s sn an,0,,,t,I 49, t,, F,.t tIg,,f'on
SHAH meet ~ the time and place pres Ribbed n' mia
ana shan proceed Z" maine candidate 'H f.'''ad
Any number ut delegates may select tHlr't ,h xxx
d'nt al" NiGr-Fw,drnt proNmin- o. 'ml ,l'- ,a,
fore each OF said uf,tcs The Cuu,,nuut ml' i' ~
ton ut nvc candidates Tor each of said M cs lh' 70
visions o M. amendment r,ai!ns 10 ue tlN r'1', y,
hi rhc rrcsbi,ni and VIC fir,iicnt .hai t,a,,gdi
NE largest numher of votes i tlc lui'd ,e'', I' me-
CONTAINED vote given tor persons n"Hgd , u ,,s
"ItS earlA.s HAL be ms oG' on OF @ o. @
cast for candidates presented Dos te i.ti
votts shall he declared nominated ior rrcacm tra.
Nass 40 returns n votes Ton canlldtt'. rir" 'NN 10Y
second Convention shall Dee made in tN' N."' . M
ne person RECEIVING the lufhg't nH'.'i a. YOU ~ a.
also hr declared nominated Cob ftr-HItui ' d,
u"n between the persons >u uHuiultt 'hA. 't I' j
the same manner provided ior the ur't ''u Co.," ',,
the scrhuu rvcriVus the hls ST nulu'I W '''''+'
President shall he President On
" Ilr iuu-ulng pru' islOns shall anlh l'" ''''"
Y No sui,or or Representative, Or 0ci.on h"'' Y, y
appoint, a ds,saie t,a fre.iicuin c.n,nuH
Even II the existing constitutional pf"'''"
relating to the election of the President wiz
generally recognized as obloctionunir ana u '"o
necessity Of some change WAS admitted We
should have to regard Mr.. M'Mi|nns sl0su.
tute as too cumDrous and compA"l'".
seems 10 us there is no more pruhaniilY "l ''o
adoption OF such plan than there Is " NV
/ repeal OF universal suffrage whore II h"7 ''.o
| been introduced. But we havo referred '"'
! little work not so much to critci-r IT'S pf'I ~
| ton as to dispute the underl} NIX 0s7uOnl"V"
| that the present system u cleotlng ne II''.
| dent ought To- bo changed. We ar" NOT lh 'N''
OF changing it, We do not think Ihm any,
change is necessary in orlor to bring ave."
such reform in party methods as Is most "''
able. What this country needs is h'' ""'
amendment Of the Constitution. Oui a W
rigid and exact compliance Wltn the O'"7"'1
ton as it is.
We may add. however that the h''n'
| Mr. MrNlllan'6 essay is mu"ui"''' "'
that the author has evidently devoted '"N7.'
able time to the study of our }. Itl AZ "'s' ~