Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-17
aancaster ftltelllge,,cer.
wEDkEspAY EVENING, NOV. III, 1890.
The Electoral College.

1t is true, as has been observed, that
the defeat of the Democratic elector
Terry in California, which might have
precipitated an angry electoral contro-
versy and changed the presidential re-
suit against the wishes of the people, is
an illustration Of Democratic stupidity
in risking such results by putting a man
Of his unpOpularity on the electoral
ticket. But it illustrates in a far higher
degree the stupidity of our present cleo
toral system which; as now handled,
makes the electors, intended TO be an &C
tive body Of representative men, work.
ing with profound consideration, mere
autOmata, with no power to change de-
cree written for them. The electoral COL
lege scheme is purely republican insti-
tuition and it was intended to make the
presidential selection not by the
people, nor by parties, caucuses
nor conventions, but by body of repre-
scntatives chosen for this special pur-
pose. Electors are not legally bound by
the nominees Of their parties. 1t would
be altogether possible for the electors
just chosen to make Grant president or
anybody else they saw fit; and the won
der is, in these days Of political rascality
tainting> every grade of popular repre-,
sentativcs, that there have not been fire.
guent cases of such betrayal.
Some years ago the suggestion was
made that it would he better for the
respective parties in each state to look to
the fitness of their electors and run their
best men for this Office, leaving to them
the final selection of president. The'e
could be no valid objection to this, that
the party at large ought to have a chance
To name its candidate, since after all, the
I,arty now delegates the selection of Z
candidate TO twO-thirds of its nationa
convention. a canvass without can
didate or with Il dozen, would be move
indeed, but the experience of the past
teaches us that the Democracy could not
have elected fewer electors than they
did, and possibly great many more
if they had been running Hendricks in
Indiana, Thurman in Ohio, Hancock il
Pennsylvania, Seymour in New Yorl
and Eaton in Connecticut or if the!
had been running such men us clectOr
with the ultimate privilege of then
selecting the president.
-four present system is to be contin
ucd it should at least be modified SO tina
representative electors be chosen by rel,
rcscntativc districts and senatorial cleo
tors only by the state at large. In thi
way the autonomy of the state:
could be preserved, without cndOwin,
the slender majoritieS of great state
with their present overwhelming inllu
cnce.
But whether the entire system had no
better bc abandoned in the present cOndi
ton Of our politics is Il question tina
merits grave attention and ought TO h:lv
itIr0m Congress, the press and people dur
ing the next four years. IL is to he hOpe'
there will be Il cessation of prcsidcn
making for ut least three to afford sucl
questiOnsa Il chance to he heard. Sine
1876 both parties have been almost con
tinuously busy in selecting candidates
the Republicans disturbed by the Gran
and :lmti-Grant quarrel and the Demo
Gratis with the Tildcn and anti-Tildel
contention. Give us Il rest now and e
1T this other question of primary i'm
portancc.