The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-11-07
CHOOSING A PREsIpENT.

CHOOSING A PRESIDENT.
The modeof appointment of the chief
magistrate OF the United States" said
Hamilton in the 'Fsderalist," speaking
OF the recently framed constitution, lis
almost the only part OF the system, OF
any consequence, which has escaped
without severe censHre, or which has no
eeived the slightest mark of appreciation
from its opponents" And yet no part
OF the constitution had caused the con-
vention so much perplsxity, on account
OF conflicting views saa interests. Ham
jlton himself had favored a different
plan, and had finally accepted this one
in u reluctant way and as a compromise.
says Henry King in the St. Louis Globe,
Democrat. The proposition as agreed
| to in committee OF the whole had been
to the effect that the president should be
chosen by congress, all OF the states hav-
ing an equal voice in the election; but
that had been rejected, AZ has the prop
osition to have the choice made by the
people at large. After thorough dis
cussion it had seemed better to place the
matter in the hands OF iudicious persons,
specially selected for that purpose by the
people. and representing the states az
eording to the relative humber of sena-
tors and representatives, thereby insur-
ing, in expectancy, calm and wise
choioe, free from considerations OF per-
sonal interest and unbiased by factional
or partisan spirit.
There we're obvious objections to this
method, AS its opponents pointed out.
The theory WAS admirable, and it worked
very we'll for time. or So long as every
body WAS for Washington, and political
parties had not yet attained full devel-
opment; but when the real test came,
it proved to lie disappointment as far
as the intentions and anticipations OF its
friends were concerned. Ii did not pro-
vide body OF select citizens, exempt
from ordinary Influences and tendencies,
TO exercise deliberate and impartial judg-
ment in the case. Hamilton had drawn
a charming picture OF the unsel6sh and
unprecedented way in which the interme-
date body would rise above all popular
tumuit and all sorts OF intrigue in the
selection OF the best man for president:
bit it did not turn out in that way.
Human HataFe made such u result i'm
possible. The disease OF democracy, ,"
as he had impa,iently called it, was not
to be suppressed or modified by pro-
cess OF that kind. Instead OF meekly
b"Sirg to the alleged necessity OF q
ssfguard against their incapacity to
govern themselves, the people insisted
upon doing so in spite OF this arrange
ment. They organized parties, and the
parties named candidates, and the body
OF select citizens aforesaid became, as
has aptly heen said, mere cog wheel
in the machine, a mere Continuance for
giving effect TO the decision OF majority
Of the voters of the country.
! In its original form, the plan provided
that the person receiving the highest
number OF electoral votes should be
[ president, and the person receiving the
next highest number should lie vice
/ president, provided in both cases that
such number should lie majority OF the
| whole number OF electors: and in the
event no person should have such ma
! Iority, then the house OF representatives
was TO choose president from the five
| highest on the list, each state casting
one vote, and after choice Of the presi-
I dent, the person having the greatest
| number OF elect oral votes was to be vice
| president, except there should remain
two or more having equal votes, when
the senate was to choose from ballot
This was changed in 1904 by a constitu-
tional amendment providing that the
president and vice presidents should be
separately voted for, and that in case Of
a failure to elect, the house should choose
president from the three highest on
the list, and the senate from the two
highest on the list. SO it has continued
ever since that time. Ostensiblv. the
voting as done by electors, who fcti-
tiously stand for the idea OF an indie
pendent function, but to all practical in
tents and purposes, the voter casts HE
ballot directly in favor OF the candidate
for president and vice president whose
names are at the head Oi the ticket, and
the electors simply certify as to the re
suit oil such voting.