The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-09-19

to which it is entitled. The people at
present choose these electors in each State
but the Legislature of State may at any
time direct that they be appointed in any
other way.
Probablya great many men are ignorant
ofthe reason why the people do not vote di-
rectly for the President. The Convention
which formed the Constitution under
which We live, in 1887, spent more time
and thought on the question how Presi-
dent should be elected than on any other
part of the Constitution.
An immense number of propositions was
submitted. Some of them were rejected one
day, to be accepted the next; others be ac-
cepted one day and rejected the next. There
was one suggestion that the Governors of
all the States should meet and choose the
President, another that he should be
elected by Congress.
Among those which were offered many
times and always rejected, was the pro-
position that the people should make the
choice. OF the two parties then in the
country-if the thirteen colonies under the
Confederation could be called country
one was in mortal terror lest the rights of
the States should be overthrown; the other
had not little distrust of the people.
The first of these parties afterward be-
came the Democratic party, which from
that time to the present has usually been
the champion of State rights. 1t opposed
the proposition to elect President by
popular vote, because of a fear that the
large States would overpower the small
ones.
The Federalists opposed it because they
did not believe the people could be fully
trusted to make good choice. Out OF
this agreement, for different reasons, sprung
the scheme of an indirect election by elect
ors proportional in number to the popu-
lation Each State was to have as many
electors as it had Senators and Represen-
tatiyes in Congress.
Several objects were accomplished by
this scheme. The electors were chosen by
States. The influence of the smaller States
would not be overcome by mere force of
members, nor would the larger ones be
able to dictate arrogantly to the smaller.
Moreover, it was thought that chosen
body of electors would act independently,
and would make a better selection than
could the people as a whole.
In this latter expectation there has been
disappointment from the beginning. An
intrigue secretly carried on almost de-
feated John Adams for Vice President at
the very first election under the Constitu-
ton in 1889.
But that part of the plan which gives
electors to the State, and not in proportion
to their population, will continue TO be
wise as long as there are State lines and
local government by States.
The time might come when New Eng
land, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio
casting as many votes as the whole South,
excepting Missouri-would be able, by
their unanimity, to decide all elections.
This is not at all desirable. The larger
States may wish for it, but were the cleo
ton to be decided by popular votes, the
independence of the smaller States would
suffer severely.
When any one remarks that John
Quincy Adams was wrongly chosen Presi-
dent, because jackson had more popular
votes than he; that Polk was minority
President, and that Lincoln was elected by
a minority of votes and by minority of
States, he speaks foolishly.
The Constitution does not provide for
population vote at all nor did the fathers
who framed it intend to leave any part of
the election to the mercy of popular vote.
Though they did not accomplish all they
intended. they have left us system which,
If not perfect, secures the country against
the dictation of the great States, and gives
US a mode of election which is popular
enough for all practical purposes. - YOUTHS
Companion.