Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-11
ELECTION AND TERM.

| A somewhat familiar agitation has just
been started by the Philadelphia Times
for the purpose of securing the early pass
age of joint resolution submitting to the
State Legislatures an amendment to the
National Constitution with regard to the
election of President. The proposal is
that the President shall be elected by
| direct popular vote for term Of six years,
and shall be ineligible for the term follow
ing that which he has served.
! The fault with the proposition in It's
present form is that it proposes to unite in
single amendment two distinct PROPOSE
tions, one with regard to the manner in
which Presidents shall be elected, and the
other concerning the term and qualitca-
ton. Many people who would heartily
suppoat the popular election might doubt
the wisdom or necessity of extending the
term or limiting the eligibility for re-elec-
tion. Or, the difference of opinion might
be reversed; although the lightin W which
we first put it is the one which would
strike most people. 1t is not wise to
hamper one important amendment with
q rider that might defeat it, nor is it just
to limit the ability of the Legislatures to
confirm one proposition or reject the other.
AS to the wisdom of making the election
popular one there can be no reasonable
doubt The election is practically so now,
except that the expression of the popular
will is hampered by the electoral machin-
cry. The legitimate purpose of that ma
chinery was defeated in the early part of
the century; and could not in the nature
of things be restored. The only effect of
the electoral colleges now is to increase
the trading and juggling to secure cleo
toral votes, and to stimulate the corrup-
ton in pivotal States. A direct popular
vote would do away with most of the un-
favorable features of trading, fusing and
passing special electoral laws which pre-.
vailed during the late campaign.
On the other hand the proposition with
regard to the term and eligibility of the
President presents entirely different
phases of expedience and necessity. The
lengthening of the term would probably
be an advantage, one of the most cogent
gains being in diminishing the frequency
of national campaigns. But the amend
ment making Presidentineligible to sue
ceed himself, is limiting the choice of the
people in order to secure an imaginary
cure for certain political evils. 1t is sup
posed that this would take away the in
centive to use the Federal patronage to
secure reelection. But the history of the
last decade shows that this temptation has
little influence in diverting free express
sion of the popular will; and there are
even clearer proofs that even If Presi-
dent was ineligible, it would not prevent
the use of Federal patronage to aid his
favorite or his party.
Against this absence of gain from the
change is the fact that in the past sixty
years exactly two Presidents have been
elected to succeed themselves. While this
demonstrates that the reelection of Presi-
dents is very infrequent, there is more
conclusive significance in the fact that one
of the two cases shows how such limita-
ton would have amounted to q national
disaster. No one can tell when another
juncture will arise like that which required
the election Of Lincoln in 1884; but anyone
can tell by reference to political records
that nothing is to be gained by taking
away from the people the liberty to
act freely if a similar occasion should
arise.
An amendment for the election of Presi-
dent by popular vote ought to be submit
ted and passed. But If the other PROPOSE
ton is to be urged, it should be submitted
separately and accepted or rejected simply
on its own merits.