Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-04
Associated Press Report.
The Minority Report OF the Conn.
mittee Oh Credentials C0ntinned.

CHICAGO, June 4.-Conttnuing their report .on
the Rapier case, the minority Of the committee
on credentials say that It did not appear that
there had been any district conventions I'm Ala
bama at which the Alabama contestants had
been chosen. Their authority here could rest
only on action In the state convention. II the
principle of district representation is the sound
one, then more than half OF the delegates Sit
ting In this convention are here without right,
and if the rule is rigidly applied the body would
find itself without quorum. Applause
The report OF the minority In the matter of
the Illinois cOnte st gives long history OF the
case. 1t starts out with denial of the charge
made against the state convention of having
entered into gigantic conspiracy to defraud
the electors. Not a syllable OF evidence OF such
conspiracy had been laid before the committee
and an examination OF the Iecord COM
pletely and decisively refuted sucn charge.
Speaking of the state convention, the minority
says: "1n bodies OF this character the minority
or the majority must rule. There can be no di-
vision OF the rule, and the majority OF
the republicans OF the state OF Illinois as
Sembled In state convention, pursuant to
the cali proceeding from the legitimate official
source, declared their preference for Ulysses
S. Grant, and instructed the delegates to
the convention TO vote as a unit for him. Is
this convention to say that the majority or the
convention Of the state OF Illinois possesses no
such powers? VIII this convention undertake
TO say, and will the country justify it In saying
that the majority OF the people in so great
state shall not be permitted to express their
preferences on questions of this character and
that Ii they have clear and distinct preferences
they shall be utterly helpless in the selection
OF the methods by which that preference is to be
made efectua? 1t is absurd upon the face OF ID to
say that Illinois or any state has a right to
Instruct its delegates TO vote for particular
candidate, and yet has not the power to make
such instruction efectual and binding. II Is
absurd TO say that a great state possessing this
power OF giving expression to its viii and the
will OF its majority possesses no means for pre-
venting the defeat OF that Will by violated in
structlons, by broken pledges, or by corrupted
faith. The republicans OF the state OF Illinois,
and indeed OF every other state In this Union.
Which ere en7roSs he rights Of sne the eanger e
tority, will ere long see that the en-.
Iorcement OF those rights cannot depend
alone on mere declaration OF what that major
ity's will is, but must be clothed with the
power OF executing and asserting IL, and IL this
viii thus expressed is In danger or being defeat
ed by fraud. by trickery or corruption, the state
thus impertlled has the right TO place, as the
eXIonentS Of Its WILL men In Its position who
cannot be corrupted, and whom no agencies OF
precisely what TIE majority OF the republicans
of the state of Illinois, In state convention as
sembIed, undertook to do, and succeeded in
doing. Since the republican party has had an
the re pubucans OF the state failed to instruct
their delegates to national convention to -yote
as unit. They were instructed to vote for
Lincoln on precisely the same terms as the state
delegation were instructed to vote for Grant
There has fortunately In the political history of
the state OF Illinois, as appears been no Instance
In which any delegate thus instructed has ever
deemed IL wise or prudent to undertake
10 violate those instructions. There has
been tut one instance In which those
when tie positive majority OF the convention
favored the nomination OF Mr.. Blaine. By A
Mele oversight the formaIfty of INSTRUCTIONS
Y as emitted, and delegates. taxing advantage