Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-02
State Eleotors.

People speak OF voting FOR Cleveland
or voting for Blaine in November, and
perhaps a large part Of the population
fancy that they are really voting for
their favorites for president when they
deposit their ballots at the general
election. The belief Is very general
one, but IL Is false. Though the names
Of Cleveland aud Hendricks or Of
Blaine aud Logan may appear at the
head Of ballot, 1t Is mere matter of
form, and does not count for anything.
Ofthe 800, 0O1 men who will vote In
Texas this fall, only thirteen will
have the pleasure OF voting for Cleve-
land aud Hendricks; and they viii
have TO assemble in Austin to do 1t,
which meeting and voting will be on
the Srd Of December. So far does the
power OF the electors supersede
the popular choice that ii is
perfectly feasible TO choo.e an elec'-
toral ticket favorable to one party or
candidate, while the popular choice Is
largely for the opposing candidate.
The electors are under no legal com
pulsion to vote for any one candidate
The thirteen gentlemen who will be
chosen on the part of Texas to east
her electoral votes for presi-
d 4nt and vice president are not under
bonds to vote for the Democratic nom-
inees. They would IN no wise violate
or exceed the law II they were to cast
every one of them for Blaine or But
Ter. OF course no one doubts that
they will vote for Cleveland and Hen.
bricks. but Il is only par usage and
the stIingency Of part t.es that hold
them to that performance. To violate
their obligations would be simply a
breach Of party morality, but
one against which no re-
dress at law could he had,
and the only punishment to be in
ilcted upon the delinquent would be
his party's execration and the coun-
try's dstrust. The very able states
men who nodded our federal consttu-
ton had ideas of popular government
quite different from those which now
prevail. They did not think II safe to
trust the populace with the privilege
of directly choosing their chief magis-
trate, but invented the intermediary
electoral college, which they designed
to be a body of gentlemen chosen to
select n president and vice-president al
their uncurbed judgment, without the
inieXible pledge of adherence to $
party candidate. The pr sent system
is the product of a gradual growth
and illustrates the force OF party
strength. 1t In now positively known
rs positively as our confidence
in the honor of mankind will allow
us 20 trust the presidential electors
that they will cast their votes for the
nominees of their respective parties
but all that confidence is founded OF
trust. So deep does the feeling now
: prevail that aparty nominee is entitled
, to the electoral votes that are repre-
~ schleu WI his slut 'h"e ~ eh eieu'iOi
We're cast in the house of representa-
tives that member Of congress VIII,
should refuse to vote il favor of hi
party candidate would be looked upoi
as a political traitor, though he wa
elected two years before the presidcn
4 tial election, under no pledges, ant
without any thought of being calle'
upon TO support such n person for tn
!, presidency. Such is the force of mod
i, ern party feeling, and such the mod
q ern party practice. Let no man Il
y Texas boast that he is going TO vot
for Cleveland or Blaine In the Novon
Der election.