New-York tribune., 1901-09-16
MKINLEY AND THE PEOPLE.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
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From The Washington Evening Star.
Washington. Sept 14-Reliance upon the will
of the people, that notable characteristic or NC
Kinley's public career, was conspicuousiy dls-
played on occasion which has been over
looked by his bographers, and Just at TINS tiiile
il is appropriate to review in brief the action or
the XI.IXth Congress in fixing the PRESIDENTIAL
succession and his attitude on that question: AT
the time in December, 1888, he closed the de-
bate His substitute for the administration
measure, which. with slight modlhcatlohs Is
now in the statutes, left the succession In the
President pro TEN. of the Senate and in the
Speaker of the House instead of in the Cabinet
This rejected by Democratic House Dy a
vote of los to 80. Following the fears aroused
upon the death of ViCe-Presdent Hendricks, TINS
measure, originally drawn by President Cleve-
lands advisers. had the support of leading Re
publicans in the Senate. including MI Hoar,
who debated ii with ability and secured aihehu-
ments.
Mr. McRiney's short. pointed speech is so
short, yet so cogent and so characteristic OF the
man. that it is well at this sad moment 10 pom
der it's terms and note its sturdy accent OF ue-
votion to and trust in the people OF the United
States
MIR. Speaker" he said my substitute pre-
serves existing law as il was made in I'J2 ana
leaves the Presidential succession where we ma
il in that law; and the only new provision
propose is that we shall never De without
president pro tempore of the Senate ana never pe
without n Speaker of the House of representa-
tives And to this end my substitute provides
that the Congress shall assemble at midday on
the 4th dav of March succeeding the election or
electing a Speaker, and II further PROVIDES that
I'm the event OF the Speakershlp or the presl
dency pro tempore of the senate becoming
vacant during the recess the Presldeht OF the
United States shall forthwith assemble the
House in which such vacancy exists Tor the
purpose of electing a presiding officer-
1T preserves intact the law as our lalherS
made H. and executes with certainty tnelr pur-
pose and that of the law itself IL AVOIDS tne
dangerous step taken by the present oiil' WIich
takes awav from the people of the country. IN
whom all power resides. the right TO MI a
vacancy in the Presidency in a certain CON
tingencv that contingency being the deatn or
removal of both President ana VICE freslueiit
of the United States. l would leave that Po"e,
with the people, where II properly peiohSs-
am opposed to any step IN the opposlte ui e. Ie
tion NV substitute follows the pathway OF the
founders of the government. which, IN my Juos-
ment, is the path of safety .,
Mr. Hammond interrupted; WIN 1me sehue
man permit me to ask him question.
Mr.. McKinley-Certainly. =,
we adopt any amendment 10 his Dill. that Inv, ti.v
Senate will concur, or that we VIII get any i''
that will meet the present distress?
MIR. McKinley-In answer TO the queStioii ~ -
tle gentleman from Georgia. nave no uoupl II
We send TO the Senate we'll considered amend
ments they will receive the attentive considera-
tion of that body At all events, no matter what
the Senate has done, and nc matter what tiie
Senate may do ii is our business TO perfect TINS
bin as hest we can That burden rests upon us
And further in answer to the gentleman,
would say there is no such emergency as ne ue
scribes There is such lapse Ihere are WV
lives next to the President of the United states
the president pro tempore of the Senate ana the
Speaker Of the House of Representatives.