The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-19
The prcssdency.,


The Presidency
II begins 10 look as II the Repaoncans -
Nee. york seriously Intended TO a'ler Tue
a., 20 that state. 40 ~ 10 provide Tor tue
choosing Of electors Of President ana N"s
prssIdeut Of tho United States by conV'es'
sIonal districts, instead Il, as now upon
,,sse, made up for the whole State. Noone
deuie, the power Of the Legislature 10 MAKE
such , chicago In the node Of choosing e'ec''
ors. power expressly grantee TO u'e
Y.er4sla,urs OF the several States ny tne
Const,,uyaou OF tlr United states. But
-.nv pcrsons, including not few Kepuo'
Nc.ns. claim that sue Legislature has not
uoral sight to commit in thss manner what
would be, under the circumstances an OUT
rage anon all the other Stsscs In the Union
In spcakipg OF this proposition, MI
Cs.p,.ys O'OeYoR, the distinguished Ne"
York lawyer Of that name, said recently I'D
. unfinished letter that nc had never known
political party to fail tc avail itse'i OF sucn
an pportubiiy-mearsng that 10 make 'nc
change inxuestion would be 20 insure tue
election OF Genera GRANT 30 the presH
dency this year. Upon The assumption
made by Mr.. O'OeYOR, we should say tbe
same ,bIoc-tbat Is that the change woeid
cer,uiny be made IL it couls be shown that
IN make It would be TO insure the eiection
of the Republican nominee Tor fres'oeht
next tall. II is caly because there Is douot
M In Nbat results would follow such an IN
noyation upon the customs OF the coun-
sry that the R,publicansof the New YORK
Legislature will hesitate, IL they do besi-
tate. before taking the proposed action.
The States u Ohio, New jersey, Conpect-
cut, Oregon, snd California would almost
certainly cast their votes for the Democratic
nominee for President il the Republicans
should 10 The manner proposed attempt 10
sorestall the decision OF the American peopie
nj the ballot box. The solid South has a3S
electoral woes. II needs only AZ from the
North 10 N axe up B3-the number Deces.
ssry TO the election Of a President OF the
United States. Under the proposed new
law New York herself would choose not
less than thirteen Democratic electors out
OF the thirty-tye to which that state Is
entitled. We suppose that she would
probably, under the circumstances choose
a majority OF Democratic electors, since
the people would be likely TO resent
such an endeayor to enforce snap
Judgment upon the voters OF the Union
But the Democrats would beyond a
doubt secure thirteen OF the electors.
These added to the 1873 votes from the
South. the % from Ohio, and the is from
Indiana, would elect Democratic Pfesi-
dent. Indeed, ten votes from New York
added TO those OF the South and Indiana
and Ohio will elect President. We don't
think there Is any reason for entertaining
single doubt that Ohio will refuse to cast
her vote for General GRANT whether the
New York Legislature passes the act in
uuestion or not. The German vote OF Ohio
Is large enough 10 turn the scale in favor OF
the Democratic nominee. But il the New
York Legislature perpetrates this wrong
(as so many people will regard III the ASST
rance that Ohio is safe for the Democrats
will be rendered doubly sure. These
facts are known to Mr.. CONKLING, the Die
tatOr OF New York legislation, as well as
they are known to anybody else, and may
induce him to forbid the passage Of the OBJ
jectionab'e bill.
The Philadelphia Bulletin processes to re-
gard the bill as perfectly fair because I'M
der II every portion OF the State will be
represented in the electoral college precise
" as il is represented In Congress. That
would be sound argument IL the same
plan Of choosing electors were IN use in
every State. But when we remember that
100 Democratic votes were cast in Ohio at
the last election for every 10l Republican
votes, and that all the electoral votes Of that
State would be counted for the Republican
nominee IL he were TO receive even one ma
jority In the whole State (what General
GRANT will not receive), we are at once
convinced that it Is not fair for New York
to choose her electors according to the pro-
posed plan, unless all the other States do
likewise.
We have no hope, however, that the ques-
ton OF fairness will enter into the decision
OF the question. The Republicans OF the
New York Legislature will determine it
with reference to It's anticipated influence
upon the fortunes Of the Republican party.
III they come TO the conclusion that by
changing the law they can insure the cleo
ton OF their candidate for President, they
will change 1t, II they come to an opposite
conclusion, they will not change 1t. Con-
sidering that General GRANT is the man for
whom the vote OF New York will be cast in
the Republican National Convention, we are
inclined to think that upon the whole the
chances are against the adoption Of the
change proposed. II might alarm the coun.
try too much for the Republicans Of New
York to come out for so radical change in
an old law at the same time that they came
out for radical change in century-old
custom.
--------=
Weakening"
The State was not more surDrised at our |