Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-09
MONDAY, JUNE 0, 1890.
INTERESTING FACTS CONCERNING PRES
IDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

The HERALD having, in recent edi-
torial article, made the statement that
no man who was ever defeated for presi-
dent of the United States by the people
was ever afterwards elected to that
Office, an esteemed Democrat takes us to
task as to the exact accuracy OF our
statement, instancing the cases OF John
Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. A
little inquiry into the facts, however,
will show that in neither of these cases
is the position of this journal in
validated.
In the case of John Quincy Adams,
while it is true that that gentleman
figured in 1920 in the second election OF
James Monroe, it was no real contest.
1t was the design of the people of the
United States that Mr.. Monroe should
be elected unanimously.
In that election Mr.. Monroe received
231 electoral votes and Mr.. Adams l. OF
course this was not candidacy in the
contemplation of any reasonable argu-
ment.
But, admitting that it was, Mr.. John
Quincy Adams was never elected presl-
dent of the United States by the people.
In the great struggle of 1924 he was de-
cisively beaten by General Jackson,
both on the popular and electoral votes,
the latter receiving 155, ,S72 votes to the
formers lO5, ,32l. Jackson also led de-
cisively on the electoral vote, receiving
80 votes to Adams's "a. William H.
Crawford and Henry Clay were also can
didates in this year.
Then followed the most remarkable
political developments ever recorded in
America up TIL the Tilden and Hayes
hocuspocus in 1876. Through combi-
nation OF the friends of Mr.. Adams and
Mr.. Clay, the former was elected presi-
dent. Very unwisely for his future
career, Mr.. Clay accepted the position
of secretary of state in the new admins
tration. From that time forward till his
eyes closed in death, the gallant Harry
of the West" never heard the last of the
alleged bargain and sale by which the
peoples idol, General Andrew Jack
son had been defeated. That
Clay would have been presi-
dent if he had never been a party
to the election OF Adams by the house Of
representatives-not by the people, be
it observed-goes without saying.
Certainly Jackson, in the election OF
1924, did not occupy the attitude OF a
defeated man. His popular vote was
larger than that of Adams and Clay put
together, and nearly twice as large as
the combined vote of Clay and Craw-
ford. His triumphant election in 1928
was not the success of a man once
beaten before the people, but the en-
phatic re-affirmation of the popular
choice, banked through artifce. As was
to have been expected, in the succeeding
election in 1928, he received a clear ma
jority of 13S, 134 votes over Adams-a
figure which would now be equivalent
to majority of at least million and a
quarter. His electoral majority was
even more decisive, as he received l7S
votes to Adams's SO.
Popular as General Jackson was in
any event, his popularity was doubtless
greatly increased by the attempt to rob
him of the Office to which the people in
tended that he should be preferred. In
1882 he beat Henry Clay by 157, ,313 ma
jority, and he received 2l9 electoral
votes to Clay's 40. The juggle of 1924
n1%x 20 o11 hn ~, 90 pnr
cerned in it.
1t is much to be regretted, not for his
own sake, but for history's, that Samuel
J. Tilden could not have been persuaded
to take a denomination for the presi-
dency in 1880. That he would have
been overwhelmingly elected we do not
doubt. The people would have gone out
of their way to confirm unmistakably
their real verdict in 1876.
The HERALD's position is that the
people of the United States never go
back of their deliberate judgment. Ii it
has been one OF reputation they will
stick to it through thick and thin. If,
however, it has been favorable to any
man, and he is kept out of the position
for which they have designated him
through chicane, a second trial is always
favorable. There is nothing in the
career of Mr.. Cleveland which places
him in the attitude of man defrauded
of his office, as was the case with Gen
eral Jackson and Mr.. Tilden, and his
nomination would be third appeal to
the people which would present great
elements of risk to the Democratic
party.