NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE ten million and a quarter adult males who now take part in the election for the American Presidency, decided on Tuesday for Mr. Harrison, the Republican candidate. Of the 401 members of the Electoral College, 233 will vote for him, and only 168 for Mr. Cleveland, who clearly has not benefited by his recent anti-British action. It is believed, though the figures are not yet known, that the Democrats polled a heavier vote than ever, and that Mr. Cleveland may even have a majority of the mass vote ; but what is needed is a majority of the "Electors." These are distributed to each State in proportion to its popu- lation, but as each voter votes for the whole "ticket," a majority of one in a populous State may have an enormous effect. New York, for instance, has thirty-six Electors, and in 1884 all voted for Mr. Cleveland. This year, though not 5 per cent. of the people have changed their opinions, the thirty-six Electors are Republican, and the change makes a difference of seventy-two in a College of 401. It does not appear that Mr. Cleveland's tariff policy lost him many votes, and it is noted as a most curious fact, that in the North he gained in the manufacturing and lost in the farming districts, the explanation being that Free-trade has made more way in large towns than in little villages.
