New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-16

HISTORY OF THE PREsIDEHSia1; ~ 6s,aVo
ward Stanwood. Lift D. (BoWoohD' O@'a'0'
DID. Nv. 5s6. Houghton Mifiin q Co
The foundation of this volume is the authors
we'll known History of Presidential Elections
published in 1884 The widening Of the original
nlan which marked the successive editions OF
that work has under its title been carried
stul further and the text has largely been re-
written the result being notable increase OF
Importance and value. AS a whole. II is the
most satisfactory exposition OF the facts sus-
eested by its theme that has been written
II one were TO criticise anything in Mr.. Stan
woods plan. however, ii would be this very
ronrabensiveness The historical field which
the new title and the avowed aim of the book
cover is too wide 10 be brought within the limits
of q single volume. For ii includes not only the
legal and statistical aspects of the matter-the
stems nv which the constitutional provisions for
the election of the President and Vice-President
have been modified, both in effect and in form
and tho details Of the separate elections, but
slso the political-the factors which have deter
mined the choice Of successive Presidents, ana
the lines OF policy which they have adopted. In
addition the historian Of the Presidency shouio
consider In what way the acts of the presidents
and the course Of Congress have ahected the re-
lstions of the Executive TO the legislative power
which the trainers Of the Constitution sought 10
establish The first OF these topics forms a as
tjnct and easily controlled theme; but the secono
is exceedingly vague and comprehensive involV-
ing directly or indirectly pretty much the entire
history of the various political parties IN oroer
~ handle il with effect in brief compass, in
connection with the frst the view must be arpi-
trarilv and strictly limited TO certain Of Its
aspects. and this Mr. Stanwood has not done
His treatment of il IS. in effect summary &C
count Of National politics from Washington to |
Mckinley which is excellent in its kind, but Is |
marked in many points by inevitable made
ouacv and lack Of the force which would nave
characterized the concentration or his attenuoh
upon a few well selected points With regard 10
the third topic the opposite criticism Is 10 De
made for he onlits Il altogether. II IL De
urged" he saws that a history Of the Presi-
dency should include" such discussion the re-
NV may be made that the office is now what IL
IS in the time Of Neutrality-suspicious. Of greater
nor of less weight in the government than it was
then" This may be true technically, though III
view Of recent events involving radical change
OF National policy effected, practically by Pres-
Dental action alone one is not disposed 10 admit
Il without some qualification. But surely such
struggle between the Executive and Congress as
that in the time Of Jackson. in that of john
son 10 say nothing Of other periods, even If 1t
resulted In each case In a draw-in no perma-
nent disturbance OF the constitutional balance
furnishes abundant material of the utmost i'm
portance in It's bearing upon Presidential his
tory The fact in a word that the actual power
OF the President has been modified so little
would seem to be in itself one Of the things
which it is essential to explain. The interest or
the story suffers also from the summary way In
which the author. in accordance with his theory.
dsmisses the Jacksonian and Johnsonian cpl
sodes.
Mr.. stanwoods discussion Of his central
theme, the development Of the electoral system
and the detailed history Of its operation in the
various elections ls however in every way adj
mirabe AS comprehensive work Of reference
on this subject the book leaves little TO be de-
sired The mode OF appointing the Chief Mags-
trate prescribed by the Constitution was at first,
as Hamilton said "the only part Of the system OF
any consequence which escaped without some
censure, or which received the slightest mark Of
appreciation from its opponents" But. Mr..
Stanwood adds II is also the part which in the
actual making Of the Constitution has suffered
the most change and has been subjected to the
most earnest and continuous criticism. In choos-
ing the existing method Of electing the President
and Vice-President the object Of the Conven-
ton. is well known. TO avoid the
hand the augmentation OF the power Of the
larger States. and other (supposed) difficulties
which would follow from their election by direct
popular vote and on the other the subordina-
ton of the Executive to Congress which would
result from their election by the National Legis-
lature. Both aims were, it thought Sc
cured by the institution of the Electoral College,
the members OF which were to be chosen as the
Legislatures Of the several States might direct.
and were expected to express, with entire free
dom from popular constraint by their votes the
enlightened ODniOn of country This two
fold independence of the electors however was
in fact both undesirable and impossible. Their ,
independence of Congress was, of course, indis-
pensabe. and attained; but the develop
ment OF political parties made Il absolutely
necessary 10 the normal operation Of the Gov
eminent that their function should become.
what it Is. the mere mechanical registration
OF the popular will This change, although il
did not, perhaps, become definitely a part OF the
unwritten Constitution until the system Of party
conventions established. early went into
effect practically, and introduced various diff
cuties and anomalies into the electoral system
Of which have been removed though others
remain 10 this day. All the incidents Of this de-
Velopment. we'll the various legal ques-
tons which have been raised with regard to the
manner in which Congress should exercise its
duty Of counting the votes. are discussed by Mr.
Stahwood with lucidity and funess. To follow
MN IN detdll is Impossible, but his conclusions
with regard to the results Of the development
the system as it stands to-day-are judicious and
well worth quoting
Summing up" he says the merits
and faults of the system as modified by ex-
perience may at least say this. that it has
almost always resulted in giving effect to the
popular WILL well as to the will of the States !
which was what It was designed to do The rest
lessness which advocates radical change in any
institution that has turned out not 10 be perfect
without due consideration OF fresh evils that
may be introduced by the reform has devised |