The new North-west., 1885-12-04

by the death of Vice President Hendricks,
but one llfe-tha, of Grover Cleveland
stands between the chief magistracy Of the
United States and an interregnum. There
Is q weak point In the chain Of Presidential
succession, and this death has demonstrated
1t with powerful emphasis. The law pro-
vdes that In case of the death, resignation
or inability OF the President, the Vice Presl-
dent shall succeed him; In case Of the re-
moval Of both, then the President Of the
Senate pro TEN, succeeds temporarily to the
position, and If there is no President Of the
Senate pro tenn, then the Speaker Of the
House succeeds to the position. Mr.. Carlisle
ceased to be Speaker of the House with the
expiration of the Forty-eighth Congress.
The Senate Of the United States Is held to
be a perpetual body, and 1t has been GUS
tomary heretofore for the Vice President to
absent himself temporarily, that President
pro TEN might be elected as contemplated /;
out Vice President Hendricks did not do
this, perhaps because a Republican would
have been elected. Therefore the death Of
Vice President Hendricks leaves only the
life of Mr.. Cleveland to prevent an interreg-
mum In the chief magistracy of the United
States. When Congress convenes next Mon
day there will be elected President of the
Senate and q Speaker of tie House, and the
difficulty will be TO that extent bridged.
But so grave seemed the eS sting situation
that many eminent men and journals i'm
portuned Pres ident Cleveland TO forego his
expressed purpose of attending the funeral
of Vice President Hendricks at Indianapolis,
aud he finally yielded to their desires. 1t
was not deemed wise that even the infnites-
simal risk Of making the railroad trip should
be added against the ordinary chances Of his
death before immediate succession was pro-
vided for.
If President Cleveland should die, even
after President pro tenn of the Senate and
Speaker Of the House is elected, and be-
fore October, 1887, the Secretary Of State
would be required 10 Immediately notify
the Governors of the several States, calling
for the election or choosing Of Electors for
President within thirty-four days preceding
the first Wednesday in December next ensu-
ing. These Electors would be required TO
meet on the Wednesday designated aud pro-
ceed as In the case of an ordinary election.
1t will be seen that even the provisions cited
do not provide against a possible interreS-
mum, which might lead TO serious conse.
quences but If they did provide against an
interregnum there would still be contin'
gency, as there exists now, of the expressed
will of the people being defeated. When
the Senate meets, either Edmunds, Logan
or Sherman will probably be elected Vice
President pro TEN. Then, in case Of the
death of President Cleveland, this President
of the Senate pro TEN will succeed 10 the
Presidential place, and hold 1t until after
the election provided for In the December
following. This would give US an acting
Republican President instead Of dead
Democratic President, and, while strictly
legal, would overthrow the determination of
the voters Of the United States at the last
ops defect In the machinery Of succession
which may some time be of gravest conse-
quence. We believe thoroughly and en-
tircly in the Republican party; but We
believe just as sincerely, that the Democrats
and their allies fairly elected their President
and Vice President in 1884 and acquired the
right to executive control Of the Govern
ment for the four succeeding years, and that
the defects In the method of succession
which would throw the administration mean
time into Republican hands, Is radically
defective and sheuld be changed. This can
be done so there will be scarcely possible
contingency Of interrgnum or change OF
the political complexion Of the National
administration, and the best plan we have
seen suggested appears that presented In the
Salt Lake Tribune, viz: To elect Presiden-
tial Electors for four years, with provisions
for filling vacancies occurring amongst their.
Then in case of the death Of Vice Prcsi-
| dent, or his accession TO the Presidency, pro-
vide that they shall within a certain number
of days elect a new Vice President. This
would reduce the chances Of an interregnum
or change OF partisan cast in the chief mag.
istracy TO the minimum, and would carry
out the theory Of political selection Of sd.
ministrations every four years. 1t Is Ger.
tainly evident the present system is defec
tive, and we do not know of better one
than that suggested. Fortunately, there is
every fair probability that President Cleve-
land will serve out his term, but the ext
gency Is so impressive that 1t seems duty
Of Congress to promptly provide against the
manifest defects Of the present system.