Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-29

The subject OF presidential inability, now pend
Ing In the Senate, promises to yex the Congress
siOnal mind considerably before IL shall be settled
by the enactment OF law. In the first place the
difficulty Is to define what shall constitute inabil-
ty to fix the authority for deciding. 1t would
not be safe to leave the determin ton with the
President himself for the inability might take the
shape OF mental arrangement To leave the deci-
sion to the Vice President to submit II to an in
terested party. The prevailing opinion seems tn
be In the Senate that In event OF the President
becoming unable to perform his duties the Vice
President becomes acting President until the chief
executive shall recover from that Inability, II 1t be
OF a temporary nature. But there are those who
antagOnze this theory and insist that IL the Vice
President once assumes the executive chair he
should retain it to the end of the term Senator
Jones, or Florida In recent speech, took
this position and insisted that it was sup
ported by the constitution, the history of
the convention that prepared It, and the
exposition It has received in Congress.
The inability clause OF the Constitution as origt
nally submitted To the convention after providing
that in case OF the removal of the President from
Office, or or his death, resig tion or inability TO
discharge the duties OF the said Office, the same
shall devOlve the Vice President suntil the dis
ability be removed or President shall be elected"
These words were subsequently stricken out by
the convention, applying the President alone.
to stand relating to botA the President and
Vice President From this Senator Jones argues
that IL the Intention OF the convention to pro-
vide against q calculating" President and to
maintain the Vice President In the executive chair
for the remainder of the presidential term, If he
was once called to it through the inability OF the
Chief executive.
Other democratic Senators hold to the opinion
that the Vice President, in case of the temporary
inability OF the President merely becomes acting
President for the time being TO carry on the gov
eminent In accordance with the policy OF the
President. The differences OF opinion on this sub
Jet between men of the same party are wide
possible, therefore there is danger OF the i'm
pOrtant subject becoming party question
In sending Guiteau TO the prisoners dock yes
terday, step was taken in that now celebrated
case which ought TO have been taken the very
FIRST day of the trial The adverse criticisms upon
Judge Cox have mainly arisen from his course in
not treating Guiteau from the start exactly as
any other felon arraigned fOr the same offence
would have been treated. DiveSted OF all the
rubbish OF one kind and another that has been
festOOned about it, Guiteau's undisputed crime
was the tlking of human Hfe,-the gravest
offence known TO our laws; and when placed upon
his trial for this he should have had the same con-
sideration shown to any other criminal of the
same class,-no more, no less Had this course
been pursued from the beginning the case would
have been saved from most II not all the diff
cultieS and endorsements which have since sur
rounded it,
French officers are now in the United States buy
ing horseS for the cavalry service OF France These
oficers are authorized to purchase 5000 horses.
The achievements of American bred horses in Eu-
rope during the past year have opened the eyes of
these people TO the superiority OF our racing stock
but this Is not the first time that the "effete
nations" have been compelled 10 avail themselves
OF the superior resources OF this country in the
matter OF draught horses well as cavalry horses
For some years past the purchasers of horses ON
foreign account have secured our country in quest
OF suitable animals for government use, for
carriages. IL Is pretty evident that in the future
the United states will have TO supply the 'playel-
OUT Old world with horses OF all kinds, as well as
beeyes, hogs, meats and DreaGistufTS-
Political coalitions are becoming more popular
since the success OF the Malone movement in
Virginia. In Tennessee the state credit democrats
aud republicans are discussing the project OF Co
a!ition OF their forces for the purpose crushing
out the repuiationiStS. In Arkansas fusion OF
the sort Is talked OF, having the same pur-
p'Se In yiew-the defeat OF population A coaii-
tOn TO accomplish this purpose, no matter what
Political elements may be parties TO it, Will receive
general endorsement.
The MOTmOns probably viii not call it divine
fnIerpo>ition in their behalf because Rev. Dr.
Bacon happened TO be engaged On an article
against their doctrines when stricken down by
Death last week. Yet such claim would be no
more prepOSterOuS than many others OF the same
Kind that have been made by other religious sectS
IL the past