News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-11-15
The Electoral College.

We have already mentioned some /
of the questions which the new Con-
gress can not escape, and by which .
the capacity of the majority will be
severely tested. The chief of those /
which.wiu press for prompt consider |
alton and treatment is the question of
the finances, and especially of the
currency. But there is another which
ought TO be wisely settled, hut the
Terpetual pOstpOuemenL OF which ~ a
shrinking AluslreNNSn o W Ssss>sas :. =
which Our craftsmanship 'FuhS Ioi
I,,nl-r in the most important t#'t'r>.
an address to his CLASSMATES ~
S..Io Inst summer. President W Hitv-
Of Cornell University, mentioned the
four greatest political questions which
now challenge the attention OF the
country. They are, first, education
in the Southern States the reform OF
the civil service; the tariff question :;
and that which he describes as prob
ably more critical than any of the
others. 1.-THE rectificatiOn of our elec-
toral college system" The want of
proper settlement of this question has
brought us to the brink Of civil war.
1t is cOnfessedly the weak point III
our constitution. Yet, while few
iurists in Congress sometimes discuss
it. the nation, says President White,
can hardly be induced to give 1t :
thought.
This is the subject which an intelli
gent body Of a dozen men could read.
ilv and wisely treat, but which Con
oress constantly evades. 1t has beef
exhaustively discussed. Its vital i'm
portance has been admitted. But, Il
the fear of losing some party advant
ace. both parties have recOlled from
final adjustment. Nothing more Sc
riously impeaches our practical poilt
icaI capacitv than the fact that a stu
alton which in 1877 threatened th
country with the most tremendOu
civil convulsion and which is vCr
likely to occur at every Presidents
election. vet which Is simple ques
ton of procedure, remains untouched
and is as likely to plunge the countr
into civil war in 1SS4-5 as it was t
produce the same calamity six year
ago.
The happy-go-lucky folly whic
avoids the question IS even surpasse
By that of the inane assertion tha
there is no question. They can
put YOU in the stocks for doing that,
said sympathizing friend to hi
pal" Cant they" replied I'll
cuIprit; .'welI, they have done it.
..There is no question whatever" sal
the wiseacres i'll 1867, ''if you Onl
take our view" There are men an
newspapers that still reproach Nj
Tilden fJr not taking the seat
which they aIIege that he was elected
when the whole question turned upo
the Interpretation of the constitution
al method of legally ascertaiming an
declaring the election. The necessit
of a reasonable provision upon th
subjec. is too plain for discussion
The only misfortune is that the part
majority in the two Houses Is not Il
same. But the provisions Of u
Edmuuds plan do not favor eILh'
party, and it IS exceedingly dlscredI
able to the Republican party tina
with its control Of the last Congress!
it permitted this question to lie unse
tied. The Democrats, it is believed
and by ardent Republican politician
it is hoped, will destroy their chance
for success next year by series
plumbers at the coming session. The
could do their party no better seryit
than ny adjusting this dangerous que
ton, for they have to fear nothin
more in the contest Of next year tina
the general and deep diatrust of the
capacity for practical and benefciel
legislation.-Harper's Weekly.