THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 44, 3 November 1904, Page 3

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

On Tuesday evening of next week nearly every citi/en of the United States will know whether he is to li\e under a Republican or Democratic regime for the next four years. The government of the United States is intrusted to three separale authorities— the e\ecuti\e, the legislatne, and the judicial. The executive power is vested in the Piesident, who holds office for four vcars, and is chosen, together with the \ lee-Prcsndent, by electors appointed by t lie several States ot Ihe I nion The Presirieni chooses a Cabinet of eight members, each having charge of an administrative department, but/ none of them having a seat in Congress, which comprises a Senate and a House of Representatives. Senators are appointed, two from each State, by the several State legislatures, and hold office for six years. The Senate has the power of confirming or rejecting treaties with foreign Powers. The House of Representatives is composed of members elected biennially by the citizens of the several States. Usually the electors are all male citizens of 21 years of age and upwards. The representatives for each State are in the proportion of one for 17.}, 000 inhabitants. No person except a natural-born citizen of the United States is eligible for the office of President, and he must at the same time have attained the age of 35 y,ears. This accounts for the legend that the late George Francis Train, in expectation of an increase in his family, hastened from London to New York so that his prospective heir might have an equal chance with all males born in the country of being one day appointed Chief Magistrate ot the land over which floats ihe Stars and Stripes. There is no rule debarring Catholics trom filling the highest office in the country, but no Catholic has ever been a candidate. The highest political position given to on American Catholic was that held by Roger B. Tansy, who was at one lime Chief Justice of the United States The elections for President and Vice-President are held on the Tuesday iollowirg the first Monday in November, every leap-year, but the President-elect does not assume office until the following 4th ot March. 'llw a\erage citizen of the United States takes his pleasures sadly, and it is only when he has amassed the necessary amount of dollars, which permits him to rankas a millionaire, that he lays aside business cares for a time and takes a holiday abroad His tour through Continental Europe is at express sped, and m direct contrast to the leisurely Englishman. Alter having ' done ' the sights, assimilated the contents of guide books, and impaired his digestion by hafctily-eaten meals on the line ot travel, he hurries back to his beloved business, which has the lirst place m his thoughts until perhaps the next Presidential election, this heing the only event that is allowed to interfere with his moneymaking pursuits. Fiom July to November every leapyear the country is plunged in a vortex ol excitement over tiie question, whether a middle-aged American citi'/en of the Republican or Democratic brand shall occupy the White House for the next four years. Other nar-t-ies, also, nominate candfdates, but the contest hes between the* two chief political factions There is a great difference in theory between the Republican and Democratic platforms, especially during an election contest, but the icality is not so apparent to those who view the campaign from a neutral standpoint. The result ot the election, however, is of very immediate interest to the paity leaders and active politicians on either side, tor a change of government means a change ot office holders in many instances, and it, therefore, very oitcn resolves itself into a fight on the part of those who are in to stay in, and those who are out to get in. '1 his is, perhaps, one ot the worst features of political life in the United States, not that office holders are paid princely salaries. The President, who has to represent the nation at the While House and dispense hospitality to distinguished visitors, receives a salary equal to about half of that paid to the LordLieutenant of Ireland, whilst the Yiee-Pres>ident draws just about what we iti New Zealand allow our Premietr. The members ot the Cabinet have each a salary of £1000 a year, not an extravagant amount when we consider that the Ministers in this Colony draw from £1000 to £1000. The Republican candidate is Mr. Roosevelt, who was elected Vice-President in 1900, but succeeded to the Presidency on the death ot Mr. McKmley on September 11, 1901. He is a strong man of broad-minded views, who speaks his mind freely, this latter characteristic attracting; many friends and also making many bitter enemies, especially in the South, where his sympathy with the colored peonle has been keenly resented. In past times the majority of Irish voters and thopf, of Irish descent supported the Democratic candidate, hut on this

occasion many of the leading men have cast their lot with the Republicans, whilst the ' Boston Pilot,' an influential paper, has adopted a similar course. Although Mr. Hoosevclt's avowed intention to tackle the trust problem has come to little or nothing, still his opinions on the subiect have brought him into conflict with many ot the leading Jinanciers of the country, whose money and influence are of great weight in such a contest. And, iurtiieimoie, they control a large numlber of newspapeis, which are not at all particular as to the me! hods they employ to damage the reputation of a political opponent. On the other hand Judge Parker, the choice of the Democrat';, lias- no political past to be ai lacked, and not being much of a speaker, he keeps pietty silent as to the future, it is said that he has the support of many financiers interested in trust and com'lnnes, and as he has never shown any marked predilection for the negro race he is .sure of a solid vote irom the white population of the Southern States. His address on accepting nomination was what might be called colorless. He advocated prudent tariff reforms ; trust legislation, it the existing laws dealing with tnat question were found to be inadequate ; and the avoidance oi entangling lor&E.n alliances. The importance of the election to the people of the I mitcd States can be guaged by the fact that the President, during his term of office has greater executive powers than most European rulers, lie is commander of the national forces, and hasj a veto on all laws passed by Congress, although a bill may become law in spite of his veto, (n being, afterwards passed by a two-thirds maionty ot each House of Congress. The administration is conducted under his immediate authority by eight ministers chosen by him, and holding office at his pleasure '1 he members ot the Supreme Court, which has power to interpret the constitution and decide all disputes between the Federal Government and the individual States, arc nominated by the President. He i 9 independeni of the two Houses in many vital and important matters. Under such circumstances, it is not a matter lor surprise that the election creates great interest and excitement, and that tor some weeks prior to the polling day the press and the people are almost wholly engrossed in the question as to who will be their Chief Magistrate for the next four years.