The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-12-26
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.

nently before Congress is the
question as to who shall succeed to
the Presidency in case of the death
of the two highest officials. Since
the American independence four
Presidents and five Vice Presidents
have died during their term of
Office. Fortunately it has never
yet happened that both the Presi-
dent and Vice President have died
during a single administration.
Such an event, which is likely to
occur at any time, would create
the utmost confusion In govern
mental affairs, and might precipi-
tate revolution. No other coun-
try is dependent, like the United
States, on barely two lives to pre-
serve the succession of its rulers.
In all monarchical countries the
succession is amply provided for
by a long line of persons standing
ready for promotion in case of
accident or death.
Public sentiment appears to have
crystalized upon the fact that it is
necessary to provide for complete
line of succession from the Presi-
dent down, and the only thing that
now stands in the way of immedi-
ate legislation on the subject is as
to the method by which to accom-
plish the desired object In dis
cussing the subject the Times
Democrat says
There are two chief propositions, one
that the selection of a President should
be left to Congress, and that the Sen
ate should elect President pro TEN,
to succeed to the office, or in his de-
fault the Speaker of the House should
do SO; or, secondly, that the line Of
succession should pass through the
cabinet, from the Secretary of State
down. To the first proposition the
objection is urged that it might bring
into the White House a man Of differ
.ent views and politics from majority
of the people, as it would, in fact, do
to-day, and that it would still leave
open the possibility of a vacancy
should both President and Vice Presi-
dent die before the Senate has elected
a President PRO tenn. Against the
other proposition it is asserted that it
| would give the President extraordinary
powers never intended for him, ena-
bling him like an autocratic rule- to
name the line of his succession, taking
frorn the people and their representa-
tives the power to say who should be
their rulers.
There is merit in both objections, and
it seems to us that Senator Edmunds'
proposition that there should be an
appeal to the people at as early a day
as possible, an election for President
and Vice President, to fill vacancies
occurring in these offices, is very proper
and correct. In the meanwhile, how
ever, who should act as executive Z
Would not cabinet officer serve bet
ter than one of the members Of the
Senate or the House Would he not
be better able to follow in the line of
policy of the late President, and to
carry on his plans and projects There
would he no chance then Of q sudden
revolution in the policy, of change
and shifting, of new men and officers
coming in and a reversal of everything
that had been doue 10y the deceased
President. The executive would, in
this case, be in political accord with
the people and with his presidential
predecessor.
Such an arrangement would be
greatly to the stability and security of
the country. The death of the Presi-
dent would cause no shock to our
affairs because his successor would take
up the policy just where he had left it
of, and carry it on to completion. AS
far as security is concerned, and if it is
desired that the executive should be in
political accord with the majority of
the people, this line Of the presidential
succession presents great advantages
over any other.
The only objection raised to it is that
the cabinet officers are not elected by
the people; that they are mere crea-
lures of the President, personal repre-
sentatives of his. without popular or
official Endorsement. On the other
hand, a member of the cabinet holds
his Office not solely by the appointment
of the President, but with the consent
and approval Of the Senate, and it will
see to it that no man occupies the
Office who is not worthy of it. With
this approval q cabinet officer is quite
as fit to step into the executive chair
as the president of the Senate. But
whatever the decision of Congress on
this matter the arrangement must be
regarded as at best a makeshift to meet
a Vacancy in the Presidency and the