The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-07-11

NoOouy s4spSSA oO1AA AS4bJ VI pS'HE
moved aelely by considerations cI high
principle. When he proposed to DO away
with the unit rule 10 did II primarily 10
magnify the power Of Tamusny and
weaken Cleveland. Bat 1t happened that
in.eles: snd right can.c lesslhCt in the
Tan1many proposition.
Whatever virtue there msy bo in "an.
Gent custom" goea 10 the credit Of the uni:
rule, Tor that meEtuga is half csRtuyy old,
havin. been born in 1885. in Tie Baltimore
convention 81 TIA. ycaE. Twas ct that
timo a rule o: convenience. The le!cS!-
tionu did no! as nov Invariably contain o
delegate for each vote 10 which Slate wRa
entitled. In scino caGtB the .umbe. CT
delegates was greater aad in GONE lees than
the vote Of tho Ststo in convention, az
frequently happens in Cur local conyeI-
ions. Tho unit tu!a SO spilled to esch
delegation Gavcd trouble. Il may
DO that in Ito inception there
WAS soms deie,sacs also 10 the doctrine Q!
State sovereignty, for which the Demo.
czacy has alway4 had 4 rolf sids. A! all
events that idea became closely connected
with the ut rule and even now hGa much
todo with the reneratiOn in which It 10
hold. The matter Of convenience has no.
applied since lS5. when dtlcsztiors began
to DO composed OF oLe member Tor each
vote With regard to this matter our
uei2hbor the &tgittcr says:
Formulated Oh tho El4cEura! Co!lcgu plsu
Of the Federal Constitution, Il las never ttop
construcd e. forcing Etsis Agaias, Il. viii
to casta unit vote. I.me!oly Comedies 10
each State the right to cast its oTn ys,s In
tho mode prescribed by 1t, own local convex
ton.
!. This is a conspicuous mirconception Of
the Electoral College plan. The rseaiden.
tial electoTs Of q State sre moi required to
voteas aunt. Except his moral obligation
to support the nominee Of the party which
chooses him, there is no obligation resting
upon an elector to yote Tor the nominee Of
that party. There Is nothing 10 proven.
any elsctor from voting as he pleasss. III
ono can do !! all CA do it. Tho nult rule
therefore. iudu no sanction III the Eiecto.
toral College plan, which Is based Oh the
idea, WILDLY departed from in practice, that
each elector votes as he pleaaes and yo.ca 8
secret ballot. Uni: rsle or no uni. Yu,c
u matter for each party to decide for It.
self. The Republican party, after realizing
lis evils and alter Il hard Ugh! 10 break Il
down, has abandoned The unit rule for.
ever. In this |! recognized Tho district, the
unit which comea nearest to tho people, |
rather than tho State. BY .ha method the
popular will 10 mes! accurately tested, and
It Is tho popular will that ought 70 control
\ National Convention.
Nor are the Tdmnauy braves the only
Democrs.a who opposO tie unir rule. This
Louisville COurier.Jcurnal, which has M
bowels Of compassion .cr Tamrany, says.
Couaidesed independently Of any INN.
snces which forced this qacs!ion to Tia frnn.
yesterday, It would 10 well /! his mia
could be- d!sCensed With. Ills Fundamentally
and of.enstMes unlaft. ItiSmoro obisct;nn.
able than The tTc.lhlyd, ,I!e, hsv!rr rnrt
81 the LISTERS lne!lts and hut few fertrrs.
lha. appeal 10 Tho inirmluded. Ii In
stroagsi. engine Of tho ms1hiua element In
pottucs, Hhan that element Gu Command a
majority. i defeats p0pulsr teprGtoutrtien
By slihlns :hs minority and giving them No
Volcs EhA!sYer. or rather 10 recording ibaI
1olce Ia oppoG.tson 10 tho ezprcpJict, thnr
would make. II should ba sb1Iishsy bv N,
Democrats ~ It has besn by The Kenabli,
,sns, -
Tho ditlcal!y in h.tstins this rule l;ss In !
he TACT that whennycr yloA On stt.mn, i,
nado, itis mLdc in favor OF, or REninst tnS in,
Great Of, soms particular caIdltEtc. fhn,
giving tho question u ptF!oaGI and isotIonn I
character rather than plL:ing it for diSons, C
hon and tscISiou on tho bleaaer e.or1dT NJ
u inertia and principle. N''S
The uni. rule will perhaps 10 ditficr,t IN
d. ria Of. br. The Republican rsrty al,oot
OF ana tho Democracy conlu do Inc p
amS II itsa desired. With tho idss q,
tate sovereignty to bsck It IN the Demo, I,
ratio party, it vii! probably oulliys this
,arnvrt,hn $3.50 y email .= u H.--.'7