, 1879-03-03
CHOOSING 4 PRESIDENT.
1hs Comparative Aforlts Of tho Troncla and
Of tho Amotlcan Methods
tanSs+s f,srtoFo<

Ths Comparative Merits Of tho Troncla and
Of tho Arnotlcan Methods
fondon Spectator.
Aud thc Aret thing Wo note Ia TINT the principle
Of choosing President through tho uustcd
Chambers Of the Legislature is certainly ln-
friely moro satisfactory, as we'll as infinitely
mere Eanld and tranquil, than the American
principle ot q great popular election through a
taucus directly elected for this purpose by the
usat popu'ar constituencies. That i Is III
tuIIsly more rapid and tranquil, the facts
lhoE. Marshal MacAfnhou's Intended res!g-
o.tlon .was not really known I'll tic
Wednesday OF last week.. On the Thurs
ar only l. WIS communicated; md on
out ,e'en any spccch-maktng, anl without 30
Tqth Is Ripple Of popular agitation. No
doubt 1t might be said tllnt on the American
tssterl, in case Of resignation, the Vicc-Prcsi-
dens Toul1 bccofno President of tho Union by
lhs nslc effect Of the Constitution itself. And
the point, For had Marshal Macslahun's Presi-
oeacs ended BY tho lapseof his whole term. IN
Head 6t by resignation, the method Of procedure
foatd hare been tust the same, while tile
American d1a would, as re all know, pe entirely
vies.p9cslent, the American people 40 not
etttend to gel oren tho person in whom they
soula DC iacltncu to feppse Inost confidence,
Mef Jug PresllciItt hut rather to they yet song
su9 ,s u whom they have no particular confidence,
.tntnt to "squarc"; while tl.e Frcnch pro-
uaate secures 1ubt aa true 4 choice Of q cue
Mtsof IN the case OF resignation M In the case
asompleecly- term. Hence tho true
"npars'on hero Is between the French method
s1es ~ 1,e AaSTsan procedure on occasion Of
@xhat sainpaigu Of elcctlonecrlng, of party
@ o.alsesa14 purity nlanauyers, sucl, an election
nIs ..ilse ilse. Low dangerous nrr tho tntrtgue3 at
Hassa .sss periods; what corruption md what ylo-
aase there often Is Wheu the -oiectton-titne
s'mss; s9 aud hasy profoundly unsatisfactory the
M.u!s ~ y abt to bc,-how seldom tho man galNs
ss election whom Tho people most lrust, ,-l.ow
s.!lc1t!s the result secl1ls to b9 tlIAt the man
a.nso asaosen who had the fcwest vehement oppo.
~. oss%s iatacr than he wh1 Ind TIC most MINER
sase, ssutse" !" wlRs,-ard ltow lonH It Is before tu
nSsss Sms netse" a is known to tho peoule, IT
H. s'ssa s, Tiers be anything worth knowing
n 4, aln. which sometimes there Ia not.
sta.as ~ Me otler hnnd, the French procedure hos
ssa n',S.,a party man, uo t.ount,-a man Of the
s1:rn sn1.:ronttf,-but the tunn Of thu majority whom
XIX Xix ppne trusts most,-tt,e mau really held by
n. h'o M oe 'hc simplest, sinrcrcst, mnst trustwor-
m,os,, MI sno, n plain way, tho strongcal man tho
nsp'' ns',',y !, ~ ari this though u many depart
pssi " hfs hTfa1'se' Sxeept fnr Tho ronaenes r.
sbo' 'WSpplo p ean haVa hal no conception at al! OF
s,m:i uv y. lrsYy was, or what l,e wus like. Ills
E,iH y pfo6ablY - unknown to the great n,1-
s,m!! M! " treuch homes as alr. Whtebread'n
sn,s. '9ald be III tho grcat majority ol EnglIst.
liz tt,e great bravery haul not accident
tIo,,ss s.ssa 't that naIEc familiar sound. rl.o
d..f.iro. dsG u II. GreVY was essentially prompt,
in.s' anu tranquil ehuicc, BY 1atn. who
ou,t,taalm alm 10 be nian with specific qualities, -
'ut 't.s IT,, exceptionally lifting him for lhc
ser. mapoag'l On h!,n,--but qualities which
tba ..n Ivy ull'l could nut have 'bcsn known ID
liz eI', sas hlaiority Of tho French peopte: while
4, EoSe ~ y an Ordinary American President,
Pit,idofrt PM resident Polk, Dr. President Pierce, oi
dsHt' i,as naYca-nay {as 1t happentdh VI rresl
IT, ,.a n.ansoln-hes usually tkeu tarly; ttsitMt
tn W ~ exciting PROCESS, resulting; u tlle solee
tathe, ~ ~ Mtihf,hWn lnan, aMF tu his hclcctlot
l.yr ,,r ~! tne absence Of qualities which woult
tar ,msE .1e lllIi n1nu2ioua to politicians thar
NaJ"'5, a5 Known poslttye qualit!es OF auy kind
u, GsasnI GuoI = does ~ l,appen tEut tue fact TIM
u.enna.s y tho son OF a s.nnil FARMER, Who l1a.
10 ii, snafaetcr, energy. aud moderate talents
iyt ~ paesent great nositlon. is sure to secr,
Pfotsi ~ sscs q The Legislature the cordial ~
ll,tIe ~ l., sl!a French pcusantry. Dut this hut
tsnSs r. 10 efert TN ns actual selection, tnugl
our =, 10 popntarlzc II. This man who was
4aemSssSele in 1911 by tlie highly Conservatty,
~ .ne a. bordeaux for It's Frotidcnt was no
boou,, nas dspendcnt GU tho ratification 1f th
kul siT,ss5ts s9ts " lhb accidental qualification
70 1he ptldt OF the pcassutrY. : :