VII 



THE VICE-PRESIDENCY AND THE CAM- 

 PAIGN OF 1896* 



THE Vice-President is an officer unique in his 

 character and functions, or to speak more 

 properly, in his want of functions while he remains 

 Vice-President, and in his possibility of at any 

 moment ceasing to be a functionless official and be- 

 coming the head of the whole nation. There is no 

 corresponding position in any constitutional gov- 

 ernment. Perhaps the nearest analogue is the heir 

 apparent in a monarchy. Neither the French Presi- 

 dent nor the British Prime Minister has a substitute, 

 ready at any moment to take his place, but exercis- 

 ing scarcely any authority until his place is taken. 

 The history of such an office is interesting, and the 

 personality of the incumbent for the time being 

 may at any moment become of vast importance. 



The founders of our government the men who 

 did far more than draw up the Declaration of Inde- 

 pendence, for they put forth the National Constitu- 

 tion in many respects builded very wisely of set 

 purpose. In some cases they built wiser than they 

 knew. In yet other instances they failed entirely 

 to achieve objects for which they had endeavored 



* Review of Reviews, September, 1896. 



(i49) 



