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Show PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION. j The death of Vice-President Hendricks has brought on a general discussion of the question of Presidential succession. The Constitution makes but partial provision pro-vision for a succession to the President in case of his death or disability. The succession suc-cession in that case devolves upon the Vice-President, and in case of hJs death or disability upon the President of the Senate pro tempore. In this latter case the President of the Senate would be President until a new election could be had. To avoid the necessity for this is now the aim of the various methods suggested, which are to provide for the succession. The plan which seems to meet with most general acceptance accept-ance is that providing for the Presidential Presiden-tial succession through the Cabinet, the Secretary of State having the preference on the death of the Vice-President, ' and so on down. This is perhaps as good a plan as will be suggested, and it has the great merit of continuing the Administration Adminis-tration in the hands of the . party returned re-turned to power. This would provide for the continuance of the policy inaugurated inaugu-rated by the ' party to whom the administration of public affairs had been enusted. To this plan it may be objected ' that the Constitution says that the President Presi-dent of the United States must be a native na-tive born citizen, and it might happen that the members of the Cabinet would not all be native born citizens. That is true, but in that case the Secretary upon whom the succession would otherwise devolve de-volve would be under a disability, and the succession would go to the Secretary next in the order of succession. That an entire Cabinet would be foreign born, and thereby incapaciated to succeed, is a contingency con-tingency so remote that it scarcely calls for any consideration. It is an important matter and should receive that consideration consider-ation to which its importance entitles it, and it is better that it be provided for in a time of peace and prosperity than to postpone it to an uncertain future. |