Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-28
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS.

The leading article In the current Atlantic
| bears The above title and ia written by Oliver
i. Morton, the sou of the celebrated states
man. The basis of lis paper is the assertion
That the people Of this country have very it,
Tie 10 DO with the choice of the supreme
magistrate their option being restricted TO
TWO men, the creatures of two practically
irresponsible conventions. Mr. Morton goes
on to say that if, in the selection of presiden.
tlel candidates, democracy exhibits that in
adherence which is the opportunity Of intel
iectually small and ambitiously great men.
anu II It's enthusiasm in the campaign pre-
ctding the election is mostly an artificial
party product, it has the good and sufficient
reason that 1t cannot be expected to take an
Interest IN thai which has passed beyond its
coattoi. Party organizations so strong and
ehectual that revolt from the regular NOM
inee Is an acl Of irnpotency that serves
only to strengthen the opposing par
| ty. The trouble lice, according TO
Mr. Morton in the au,ocYacy of the conven.
llon, and iis correction neceesitates a trans.
lcr OF power from that body 20 the people.
Mankind is governed by names, and the
term popular convention" still screens
mary abuses, though there has arisen wide
spread dissatisfaction with the existing
method, which Invariably reject. men of
national reputation and compromises by
evolving candidates out OF obscurity. Our
writer goes on io say: "Thc prerogative of
naming the President has been usurped by
nearly every convention, aud the nominees
rarely II ever represent the will OF the
parties. IT the people can choose only be-
tween two men at an election, they have tho
right to say who those two men shall be.
We have had few able Presidents in the
past, but II was in spite of, and not because
OF, the convention. The ubsolutism OF this
oouy' concerning whose action really moth
Ing can he predicated, has become SO intoler.
able that future lease of life must denend
upon considerable modification of it's
powers 1t has been said that, "the emil
nent men of party, in an election extern
ding to the whole country, are never its
| most available candidates All eminent men
have made personal enemies, or have done
something or at the lowest protested some
opinion, obnoxious to some local or other
| considerable division Of the community. and
likely to tell with fatal effect upon the num-
Der OF votes whereas man without an
tecedents, of whom nothing is known but
that he processes the creed of the party, is
readily voted for by its entire strength" If
this is true beyond remedy, Mr.. Morton
thinks that presidential government is a fail
ure; but the convention, and not the people,
is responsible for the ignominy OF it,
Mr.. Mortons ideas are not entirely new,
but they embrace good deal Of truth and a
great many people are coming to believe
them. What Mr. Dickerson said In the
Senate two generations ago QUOTED by Mr.
Norton, regarding the Presidential election,
applies with equal force to the present mode
OF nomination; "The President should be
elected by majority, and not by minor.
ity, OF the people, and no one should hold
that Office who has not with him the physical
strength of the country. II he have it, all
is safe, for tho power that has created can
protect and defend if be have 1t not, his
holding the office lie an outrage upon the
principles of our government, and Is unsafe
both for himself and the country. A strong
majority will not patiently submit to weak
minority, who, taking advantage OF the
faults in our Constitution, have succeeded In
placing their men In the Presidential chair"