The Wilmingtonian., 1885-12-26
Randall and Evarts

electors shall hold office for four years WIN
be matter of surprise and regret to num-
Der of national Democrats. The worthiness
and judiciousness OF Mr.. Evarts sentiments
in the Senate are much more acceptable aud
to be recognized as more fitting to the de-
Inands of the question. In a distinct sense
the Randall and Evaits theories are radi-
caly opposed. "Aecummodaiive aud adjust
ed periodicity' in the four year term as ap-
piled to the Presidency aud. Congress, so
happily indicated in Senator Evarts address
in the Senate last week are strong underly-
ing phases whose intention no honest reader
of our constitution can evade. Again in the
idea Of creating four years term for the
Presidential electors, the very intention of
the constitutional regulation is jeopardized.
At the time the Presidential electors hre
chosen they are in that position to give
voice to the popular dietnm of that period.
That is to say whomever is chosen as Pres-
ident and Vice-President represent certain
majority consensus of public opinion at
time existing, aud the constitutional law is
clearly implied that such consensus shall
have It's demonstration iu the election of
Pres dent and Voe.President who shall
hold Office for four years. Now we all
clearly and honestly accept the implication
| II. In
fact that any two given individuals shall
| hold Office for that time as in the theory that
the political bias that existed in the majori-
ty of the popular mind shall be represented
for a term of four years at Washington. And
not alone that that particularone of the two
great political parties shall have sway at the
Capitol but also that particular branch of the
successful party, Democrat or Republican,
shall have the rens OF government and i'm
press the affairs of the nation with its peculiar
theories for the four years. So the people
in general election decides. 1t is the nat
urai result and intention of our form of cleo
tion procedure. This comedies exactly with
the theory OF aocommodative and adjusted
periodicity as explained by Mr.. Evarts. But
MIR. Randall's theories jeopardlze the condt'
ton of per'odicity years. periodicity-
by placing within the hands of certain par
ties the ability to disarrauge aud upset the
four year term. M. Gvarts' argument
tends to its preservation.
|. stsa0 epdali gives into the power Of the
~ sss;.1;,v :, nv 4ssIssss q =
vice-Preoident or both, to elect new
officials.
Now it is quite within the range OF posi-.
bility that the new,y chosen President OIL
ylce-Presdent may be men of somewhat
divergent political bias from that which the
people at the legula- general election deciar-
ed by majority Of popular vote should occu-
nv the Presidential and Vice Presidential
chairs. Where this done it would be evident
that the governmental and political theories
endorsed by the majority vote OF the people
given at any certain November election to
be exercised in the person of the executive
chosen by tnat vote Tor term of four years
would not have the opportunity of governing
and guiding the affairs and politics OF the
/ nation as intended. IL is true that If the
President should die this of course would be
' nh ysically impossible. But the underlying
, theory of the national vote is here emphas'z-
sd in its meaning, that certain pohtiea'
marty, and not that alone, but a certain de-
fined branch of that political party should
9 hold the reius of government for term ol
four years. To attain that end what better
suggestion could there BIS to satisfy and
@ maintain the integrity of the peoples wisf
e than that the Cabinet be next iu direct sue
q cession Is It not apparent that the Cabi
r net officers, ordinarily speaking, being indi
IS yiduals chosen by the President himself q
e. holding views and governmental theories a
at nearly identified with his own, according t
" his Judgment, would be the most likely, a
"A speculation can go, to carry out the creates
a. measure OF identity of that political bias
by governmental affairs which the popular voic
he asked for and accepted in the person Of Il
President? And is 1t not the Intention
our constitution law that the theories vote
for at any given general election shou
govern and exist in the land for term
-, four wears? We believe this to be the u
deriving intention OF our laws. In 9th
words that the President and Vice-Preside
= occupy the chief executive TOR the term
four years. Mr.. Randalrs project jeopal
=. ICES this point in the law. Mr.. Hoar's b
as passed in the Senate, and endorsed
Senator Evarts, affording full four yea
term of existence for the political theoi
voted for at any general election, ems
more nearly the carrying out of the cons
you, tutional theory and the wish of the people