The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-11-29
Elect by Popular Vote.

| To THE EDITOR OF TIE Journal: 1t is
| over. The excitement attendant upon a heat
| ed political campaign is to be known no more
| for the space Of four Years The welfare OF
the country can he safely left in the hands of
the victor>: no class Of intelligent people but
| what believe that the majority of the people
| desire the best welfare of the entire country.
| Hence it can safely be surmi-ed that when
evils arise the people will sooner or later cor
rect such defects.
| l. the method of clecting the highest officers
OF this country a correct one: Ought not the
people to have 4 right to choose their president
i'y direct vote: We believe that there are
reasons why change from the present system
would be beneficial 70 the politics of the nation.
lnder the present system plurality OF 20
600 in Maine gees no farther toward eIecting
the choice OF The Maine voters than plurality
Of only one-tenth part OF that number. The
electors of Maine have been chosen by large
plurality, but that plurality, which represents
the republican sentiment of the country, can
not 20 to swell the vote for President. but
must remain dormant and have no part in de-
ci,ling the nations destiny.
In electing by States it is possible to thu>
lose large number Of votes, which, could
they but add to the final result. might turn the
election one way or another. Ne one will al
| tempt to claim that the people Of the entire
country. irrespective of their place of abode.
should not have the power to elect the man Of
their choice to the office OF President. And il
is only simple justice that each citizen should
have hi> vote directly given to III man for
whom it was thrown,
Are there any good reasons why tle peopj,
of this country should not have the privilege OF
casting their votes in the way that Will make
them the most effective: We 10 not believe
that such reasons exist: neither do We believe
that well established customs should he al,
hercl to simply because they are c"StoutS.
When the time comes to take step forward
in the march Of political life, then that Step
ought 10 be taken Is the people.
hat we have said in reference To the vote
of Maine has been said simply for the sake OF
example, and may he applied to all other States
Of the country.
If the Democratic Vote OF the southern >cr-
tion OF the nation. coupled with thai of the
resi- OF llc country. i HciNA GnON-H To give
that party the Greatest number of vote, then
justice to the nnlority OF the people ,onant3~
that they Shall hold the lines OF government.
On the other hand. if the Republican vote of
the country taken a. a whole, tie the largest, it
follows that they nave m equal right to rule
Tho nation. Let the result be what il may. we
believe that the good Of the ration demands
that Il change he na't, from cur present >y>-
tenn of clccting our PRESIDENT an, Vice Pres
dent.
While the masses of the lcopl, in Hll poil.-
cal parties are ,Iou!tc-~ honest, there e, j,i,ut-
Iy exists -rcat many unprincipeA men who
will stop at nothing To cain their ends.
When the result of AN election hinges ON ot.c
or two Statr> NJ il ffeul,eutlv docs the att,.i-
ton Of poIitcian, j. ,Iirrrt,3 laru.ly Il, those
>tates R,aIiz;,,a t',.r th,.,. ,,,r.t n,. ..ttt
or lose the cnlirp ro,n,t,y. tI.4, have. - .-r.at
femptatiou. and = ,,r.at o,,,,,rtunity far .I,.-
honest mrtbn,I, Whj. ouc pYrt, in tAi> r,-
>p,ct i mo- better n,r wars, ,r,tr,Il, tI,a,
another. il j., nor vriI to Ic,y, tin. .,,y.,,. ,,f