The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-13

TIE COMPARATIVE MERITS OF THE FRENCH AND
or TIE AMERICAN METHODS.
[Ernn The London SNecia:O or. |

OF TIL: AMERICAN METHODS.
(From the London SPECTATOR
And The fist thing we note is that the
principle OF choosing 4 president through
the united chambers OF the legislature Is
certainly infinitely more satisfactory, rs well
as infinitely more rapid and tranquil, than
the American principle OF i great popular
election through caucus directly elected
for this purpose by the great popular con-
stituencies. That it is infnitlv more rapid
and tranquil the facts show. Marshal
MacMahon'S intended resignation was not
really known TIL the Wednesday OF last
week. On the Thursday only it was COM
municated: and on the Thursday NJ.
Grevy was elected, without even any
spcccii-making, and without so much as Il
ripple Of popular agitation. No doubt it
might be said that on the American system
iu case of Il resignation the Vice President
would become President OF the Union by
the mere effect of the Constitution itself.
And doubtless this is true, only it is irre'e-
want to the point. For had Marshal Mac
Mahon's presidency ended by the lapse CT
his whole term instead OF by resignation,
the method OF procedure would have been
Just the same, while the American would
as we all know, be entirely different: and,
President the American people do not pre-
tend to get even the person i'll whom they
would be inclined to rcpOse most cont
dence, after tie President, but rather do they
ret some one in whom they have no particu
lar confidence, but whom for electionccr
ing reasons it is convenient 10 "square";
while the French procedure secures Just as
true choice OF q successor in the case OF
resignation Is in the case Of completely
finished term. Hence the true co3lpari>on
here is between the French method and the
American procedure on occasions OF 4 regll-
lar presidential election. Every one knows
to what campaign OF clectioneering. Of
party promises and party mannuvres. such
an election gives rise; how dangerous are
the intrigues at critical periods; what cor
ruption and what violence there often is
when the election-time comes, and how pro-
foundry unsatisfactory the result is apt to
below seldom The man gains the election
whom the people most trust-hoW fire.
qucnty the result seems to be that the
man is chosen who had the fewer yehe-
mint opponents rather than lie who had
the most numerous hearty supporters
how often "dark horse" Withstand how
long it is before the I" dark horse" is known
to the people; IL, indeed, there be anything
worth knowing in him, which sometimes
there is not. On the other hand, the French
procedure has chosen party man, no
doubt-a man OF the mai ority, bat The man
OF the maj ority whom everyone trusts most
the man really held by all to be the simplest,
sincerest, most trustworthy, and, in plain
way, the strongest man the majority had;
and this though in many departments Of
France, except for the confidence reposed
in him by their deputies and senators, the
people can have no conception ut all
OF who NJ. GreVy was, or what he
was like. His name is probably a.
unknown to the great majority Of French
homes as Mr.. Withdrawals name would be
in the great majority Of English homes, if
the great brewery had not accidentally given
that name familiar sound. The choice of
VI. Grevy was essentially prompt, deci-
slve, and tranquil choice, by men who knew
him to be man with specific qualities
qualities exceptionally fitting him for the
task imposed on him-but qualities which
were not and could not have been known
TO the great minority Of the French
people; while the choice OF all ordinary
American President-say, OF President
Polk, or President Pierce, or President
Hayes-nay, as 1t happened, OF President
LincoIn-has usually been tardy, hesi-
tating, and exciting process, resulting
in the selection OF an unknown man,
and in his selection rather for the ab-
sence Of qualities which would have
made him obnoxious 10 politicians than
for any known positive qualities OF
any kind. No doubt it does SO hap
pen that the fact that III. Grcvy is the son of
a sma,3 farmer, who has risen by character,
energy, snd moderate talents to his present
great position, is sure to secure for the
choice OF the legislature the cordial up
prevail o! the French peasantry. Bat this
had little or TO effect on bis actual selection,
though it tends 10 popularlze It. Tho man
who was at once selected in 1871 by the
highly, conservative assembly at Bordeaux
for its President was not fl any, way de-,
pendent, on the eratitication ofthe popular
vote by the Incidental Erptifcationl jt will
affordto the pride OF tbeipeasRnsry. d'IF Il