Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-17
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER Il. 1885
- TIecfornl SYetem.

Our leader OF yesterday was long one
TOO long. perhaps; yet We failed to exhaust
The subject which It treats. For instance,
we failed 70 mention that II the Federal
Constitution should be so amended - to
make the President Of the United States
ohoosahle by the people, minority Presi-
dent would De just as Likely to be chosen
under the new plan a. under the old. Mr..
LINCOLN received, az we said yesterday, less
than 1000 900 votes a. against more than
. 10000 for D0UGLAs and BRECKNRrDGE
and EmL combined. I'VE omitted Mr..
BrlI's name ycs,erday.) lie. therefore,
would have been elected under the popular
system although be was in a hopeless mi
noriiy.
Bot suppose the amended Constitution
should require q msiorliy-yote in order to an
election. We surmisc that the result would
le repeated failures 10 elect I President at
900. We should probably soon Gud the
United state, ia The condition which has so
often obtained ia Mexico and other coun-
tries south Of us. In Poland At one time
Dor chief source % misiortuues was the law
Which recognized The right Of a single depu-
~ in the Diet 90 prevent orannul he acton
Vein ibis country would probably fare no
better 10 we should provide iu our Constltu'
non that The President must be elected by
majority o. the popular vote.
We hsye often had occasion to call allen'
ton o. the fact that q law Intended 10 accom-
pH.h one purpose frequently operates the
p.rpnirati0u in q worse form OF the wrong
which 10 was expected 70 remedy. con-
tuiuuond provision requiring two-thirdS
msjorty 10 pass a money bin m state
legislature s. rather moro likely 10 increase
tho appropriations than to reduce them
The national rycrand-hsrbOr bill has more
Objectionable item. 90 1t when the President
i.expacted 10 veto ~ than when be is known
4, be in favor of It's passage. The obiec-
n1usblc iems are added 70 the bill as
Iu,4n. 81 securing two-thirds vote where
with 10 override the veto.
10 would require a revolution In public
sentiment or a revolution Of force to convert
our form Of government into popular
onc-Iui1 ca government Of the people, by
thc people. for TIE people" There are
twenty States having population Of only
ten mIllous, which States elect forty United
State. senators. ON the other hand there
nrc eighteen States having n population OF
iurty millions 1--WE use round numbers and
quote from the census of 1850, which Sta'es
eject ouly thirty.sx United States senators.
Vh1e is in none ~ the iscts we have re-
fcrrcd o. io discussing tins subject any recog-
milton NJ the right 81 the majority t.
govern. All Of our Federal judges are APP
pointed iof lie or during good behavior.
Tb,y are practically beyond the reach Of the
people. IN the election Of a President by
the ualioDal House Of Representatives each
State las bat one vote. New York and
Pennsylvania with nearly ten millions Of
population cast two votes, and Nevada and
Delaware with one thlrd Of a million OF pop
ula'ion cast n many.
80, we are IN chains. and II IS possibly
better for MS that wo are. There is no rea-
bon whatever 70 hope for any amendment Of
ihe Federal Constitution which would rem
d.rours popular government, or govern
ncnt 10y the msiofiiy.