The Rock Island Argus., 1878-03-12
Tuesday. March 70. 1878.
Method of Electing the President.

for its operation. The history of the
British Constitution affords the most
striking and convincing proof Of the truth
of this statement. Being unwritten, and
absolutely under the control Of Parlia-
ment, the work of reparation and i'm
provement is made easy, and perpetually
proceeds. 1t is otherwise with the Con-
stitution of the United States. Whether
defects be developed by experience or i'm
provement be made necessary by progress
it is all alike subject to tedious process OF
amendment, which never succeeds until the
grievance becomes too great to be borne,
1t requires great danger or great shock
to confidence, like that given by the issue
of the presidential election of 1876, in
order to arouse the public mind to action. |
The Constitution intended that the peo-
pie should choose their own rulers and
servants, according to the methods which
it preseribes. But every intelligent citizen
knows that the people have not exercised
this right of choice for many years The
early Presidents were undoubtedly the
men whom the people desired to fill this
high position, but since the time of Jack
son, it is doubtful whether more than two
of our Presidents have been the men who
would have been elected if the people had
been free to chose.
Although.they have long since lost the
right to choose, they have, however, always
retained and exercised the power of re-
lection. They have possessed a veto
power on candidates, and have been able
to say whom they would not have to rule
over them, In other words, from the
time when national conventions came into
existence, the power of the people to de.
eide upon nominations was lost, but the
power to reject the nominees still survived
When the caucus system broke down, be-
cause it ceased to give expression to the
popular voice, primary elections were sub
stituted, and for a time proved efhcaclous,
because the adherents of the respective
parties voted at them for delegates, an d
the inspectors truly declared the result.
But it was soon arranged by the men who
make trade of politics, that the inspectors
at these elections should declare elected
the delegates who had been previously
agreed upon in secret; although the for
mality of voting is still kept up,it is under
stood on all hands to be farce. 1t il
notorious that the power to name the in
spectors involves the power to determine
Che result, so that primary elections are
noW' In tact, device by which the Office
holders tR eSse or the ofice-holders an
posse, perpetuate themselves IN power or
In expectancy. This machinery works
very smoothly, and always succeeds until
the yoke becomes intolerable, when the
people have been able, by strong effort
to eject the existing regime from power
without knowing or caring much who camt
in their place. Tweed and his Ring is
familiar example of how this process
worked in the city of New York. Th,
same machinery is still working there
under very different control, however; bu
symptoms of restiveness have of lat
developed themselves, which recent
caused the defeat of leading regular car
dldate. But as in this recent experienC
the people had no option as to the cand
date who was chosen, so, even if the revc
luton should extend, and become genera
the people can only break up the contr
OF the existing powers, without~being alb
to choose the powers which will be subst
tuted. Still, it is something to be able
dismiss; and so long as this right survive
the existence of constitutional governmel
based on universal suffrage may be regar,
ed as safe.
But in the late presidential electio
means were found to take away from th
people the right TO say which party shoul
not rule No one doubts that the populi
voice declared against the continued ru
of the Republican party, and yet the R.
publican candidates were duly inaugurate
and to-day administer the government
The power of the Office holder to perpetl
ate themselves in office, heretofore loca
has thus become nationalized. Let no on
suppose the knowledge thus acquired wi
be lost. On the contrary, if local e.
perlence be any guide, we may surely be
lieve that repetition will follow this success
and that successful usurpation will il
trench itself against future attack!
Henceforth, forcible revolution will be tb
only resource apainst usurpatior rrIoe
the patriotism and wisdom of the peopI
and their representatives can provide
speedy and certain method of giving effec
to the wilfof the people. when they deman
change of administration.
The present system has eliminated, an
found its. grave in returning boards,
which must either be eliminated or becom
as universal and as delusive as primar
elections. How to get rid of this cunnin
device Tor substituting the will of the Office
holders for the voice Of ~the people is th
problem to be solved, if free government
to survive on this continent.
The nature of the disease must be know
In order that the proper remedy NAV b
applied. The returning board deals wit
the vote of the State as unit. Its actio
Is therefore very simple and very effectiv,
Ii Its return as to the vote OF the State t
hnal, then it has merely to declare III
vote OF the State in accordance with tb
political preference of the returning boart
and the work is done. The action of n