The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-27
SEATTLE. SATURDAY, JUNE 81.
IMPORTANCE OF THE VICE PREsI
DENCY.

An Eastern contemporary, discussing
the POLITICAL outlook and probabilities,
refers TO the nomination for Vice Presi-
dent as "the barrenest honor in the gift of
any party" This is a common mistake,
and one fraught with possibilities of in
caIculable danger to the future of the re-
public as in more than one instance past
experience has significantly testified. 1t
is an error of which our politicians and
people, If they have the security of our
institutions at heart, should speedily di-
vest themselves.
Carelessness on this point was the begin
ming of the end of the great Wing party Of
the United States, Notwithstanding the
fact that it included in its leadership such
able statesmen and popular idols as Henry
Clay and Daniel Webster On this theory
that nomination for the second place was q
barren honor, John Tyler was placed upon
the ticket with William Henry Harrison.
The death of the latter made the former
President, who surrounded himself with
an ultra States Rights Democratic cabinet,
including John G. Calhoun as Secretary of
State, John Y. Mason of Virginia (of
"Mason and Slidell" fame subsequently,
rs Secretary of the Navy and Hugh S.
Legare Of South Carolina as Attorney
General.
Without stopping to inquire what might
have happened it the aged, nerveless and
timid Buchanan had died, and had been
succeeded by his fiery and impetuous Vice
President, John G. Breckenridge, most
impressive lesson Is taught by the heed
less, unfortunate blunder of putting
Andrew Johnson on the ticket with
Abraham Lincoln. That our country sur
vived the consequences of that mistake,
and of the effort to be rid of the incubus,
was but little short of q miracle.
That Arthur's succession to the presi-
dency on the death of Garfield did not
prove demoralizing and calamitous, was
due to high qualities in Arthur which
those who nominated him had no right to
anticipate and in fact did not. His ex-
emplary administrati on-one of the clean
est and most dignifed the country has
ever been blessed with--was glad sur
prise to the whole people.
In the purview of the constitution and
in the light of experience this nomination
is anything but barren honor, and to
regard 1t in that light cannot but be mis-
chievous. In view of not improbable con-
tingencies-already four Presidents have
died in office-the nomination il only less
important, and barely less important than
that Of President And even if the latter
should survive his term, to preside over
the highest legislative body of the nation
and of the world is by no means a barren
honor. That alone should be enough 70
satisfy lofty ambition.
Clearly it behooves people of ali parties,
and their delegates to national conven-
tions, to give most careful heed and fore
cast to the selection of a capable and
worthy person for the second place on the
presidential ticket. All will be derelict
and needless Of the eountry's welfare who
neglect or evade this duty. In the future
as in the past the perpetuity of the gov
eminent may depend on the selection for
the second only those who are competent
and worthy to fill the first place. These
facts cannot be too strongly impressed
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