New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-06
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION

The mOurnful possibility that the President
may not recover must direct public attention to
the fact that in the event of General Arthur's
accession to the Presidency, there is barrier
of only one life against, probably, Democratic
Executive, and, for Il time, against Govern
ment without an Executive at all. The statute
regulating the succession to the Presidency,
In case of the removal, death, resignation or
inability of both the President and Vice-P resi-
dent, provides that g. the President of the
"Senate, or, if there is none, then the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, for the time
"being, shall act as President until the disabi-
"ity is removed or President elected" 1t SO
happens that at this time there is neither
President of the Senate nor Speaker of the
House. For some reason the Senate neglected
to perform, before adjourning, the important
duty of electing President pro tcm; and there
can be no Speaker of the House of Representa-
tivcs, Of course, until that body meets in
regular session, or is called together and organ
ICES If, therefore, the Vice President should
become President, and the calamity of his death
by sickness or violence should befall the coun-
try before steps could be taken to provide for
the succession, we would be left without any
Executive save that which the patriotic CO.
operation of Congress and the Cabinet might
providing for such a contingency.
For the designated succession to the Prcsi-
dency ends with the Speaker of the House.
Congress in 1892 thought it had made provision
enough when it named three officers to take the
place in turn, should the necessity arise. But
as we now see, it is by no means impossible
that the chain should be exhausted and the
Government find itself for IA brief period without
IL head. Under the law, whenever the Offices of
President and Vice President both become va
cant, it is the duty of the Secretary of State to
issue notifications to the Governors of the
States for the selection of Presidential Electors
under conditions which need not be stated
here. Enough has been said to show that, in
the event of the Presidents death, a situation
would arise demanding prompt action. There
Is no apparent cause for apprehension concern
ing General Arthur's health and it is next to
impossible that another fanatic should emulate
the deeds of Wilkes Booth and Charles Guitcau
Surely the health and well being of President
Arthur would be the subjects of az much
patriotic solicitudc as was ever bestowed upon
President Garfield. But the country cannot
take great risks. If General Arthur should
become President, his first official act should be
to call the Senate, and perhaps both houses of
Congress, to Washington.
In that event the Republican party would
begin to realize the full effect of the resigna-
tons of Messrs. Conkling and Patt Since the
designations the Senate has stood Democrats
3S; Rcadjuster Democrat Mahone), |; Re-
publicans, 80. All the logic of Senator Ma
homes position must keep him with the Repub-
licans, giving them SO. If the New York Lcgis-
laturc should elect two Republicans in time for
the session, and they should be admitted, the
Senate would be tied, and it might be possible
for the Republicans. with the cooperation of the
Administration, to accomplish the election of
Republican, or at all events the election of q
moderate Democrat, in whom the country
wond have some confidence, as President pro
ten. But how easy it would be for the Demo-
cratic Senators to refuse admission on some
prctext to the New York Senators, and thus
make sure of n Democratic President Dro tenn
to their own liking and perhaps of the control
OF the Senate for two years. The Ncw-York
Senators could not forcscc this situation, but
they had no right to bctray Il trust taking the
chances that the injury to those who trusted
them might be small. The contingency that
the Senate might be deadlocked in the effort to
elect President pro tenn, and the Speakership
OF the House then assume great importance, is
perhaps too remote to be discussed. The whole
contingency we have been discussing is hap
PLY, remote, and yet against which pro-
vision should be made in any event.