New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A rfMrf.Y pifnLjCATiON.

A u,s~oov ar Zars,prSTtAt ELECTIONS ny
EpwAap o srAswsap' bo'o"'i ''"'' =" ''e'V' "
Air stsnwood lAs certainly succeeded In dsns
&bat advertisers "a often assume to!have done hc
ias filled a "long.fcit want" Tho need OF some
eompaet vet not meaere, history of the Presidential
elections has doubtless been experienced by nearly
hll who have at any time been obligedtto eSpeh"
much time In gathering tho particular iae's 'n's
wanted from extended historical works To DO TINS
work satisfactorily however, much Judgment ana
discrimination were required, for the temp'a'"" ~
Introduce partisan views of things IN suon DOOM
cannot but be strong to such authors as nav "'''
much in politics Yet it was necessary. ioi 'ne COM
,,leteness and usefulness of the volume. that 1t
should lie much more than n bare statement OF
facts The dominant issues at each frrsdeh,'ai
election the special features of novelty dihcuity'
doubt or danger accompanying the final proceed
incs: the origin and character of whatever strong
,ulblic feeling existed and influenced Congressional
action at the time; all had to be briefly inteiii'
Cibly and canddly set forth. And tins f'r. s'a'i'
wood has succeeded in doing. He has written
hook which contains condensed yet sufficient ac-
commits of every Presidential election. lie mas
furnished clear PREDATORY elucidation and the
necessary connecting links. All the STATISTICS anu
all the most important public documents are gwen
The balance is held level wherever there sun seems
stances in which the authors construction differs
in the least from the Judgment which the country
may he said TO have adopted on the events OF past
elections The book has value for all who interest
themselves in politics 1t is compendium OF nee
essary information, much of which, despite pubic
Aebool teaching is probably new to great many
people who nevertheless suppose themselves well
informed.
Ito those who read this condensed history care
fully however 1t Will be apt to bring some serious
reflections One of these is that the American
people have taken more risks in connection with
their electoral machinery than any other nation
ever tolerated. Another inevitable SUCCESSION
is that of wonder that all these risks should have
been successfully encountered and passed without
entaiIing the consequence which seemed insepaia-
HE from them 1t is curious to observe how
oujckly the alarm arising from these PRESIDENTIAL
crises. 80 to say, was dissipated; how gladly
Congress turned from the remedial propositlohs
showered upon 1t and how general was the feeling
that after all no serious harm would come Oh
neglect Of course this was not lustilaDlc policy,
but the absolute indsposition ofthe American peo-
pie TO break their conventions operated lnvar-
iably as brake, and saved the constitutional coach
from running away down hill. The neutrallzlhs
effect of nearly equal partisan forces no doubt has
been instrumental in preventing the adoption OF
such treasures as would render further compiled
tions ct Presidential elections impossible. But
whatever influences are responsible the result Is
the same aud we on the eve of another election
without any new safeguards from the pcrpleXtles
and embarrassments which have been SO disturbing
In the past.
OF course 1t Is the reverse of wisdom to depend
upon the inexhaustlble peaceab eness and good
temper of the people. 1t has withstood everything
SO far but it does not follow that it will always
do So 1t is the duty of Congress to have this I'M
portant matter adjusted, and the danger of delay
has already been strongly emphasized Neverthe-
less Mr.. Stanwoods little volume assures the Amer
lean citizen that he belongs to nation in whom
regard for settled order and law IS even stronger
than formal enactmeDts, and it may well he said
that there be no stronger proof OF the National
capacity for self-government than the prevalence
of this characteristic