Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-07-10
TIE UNIT Rule.

The action of the Chicago. Democratic
Convention in refusing. by vote Of +tj TO
$50. to abolish the traditional unit rule, is
not altogether understood by the public.
This rule. by which each State is allowed
TO cast its vote in the mode prescribed by
NseE is as old as the Democratic party
ave. as old as the Constitution itself Though,
time and again, made the bugbear Of our
National Conventions, vet, when properly
understood and fairly interpreted, the unit
rule, far from being an Infringement on
representative liberty is proper conceS-
sion-the logical result of our constitution
al plan Of goyernment-,O the sovereign
rights Of rhe several States.
As such, il has always been held sacred
bv the Democratic party and uurli few
wears back formed one OF the arti-
cles of the Radical Confession OF Faith.
Formulated on the electoral college plan
70 Of the Federal Constitution 1t has never
been construed u forcing State against
its will to east a unit vote. Ii merely con-
cedes TO each State the right 10 cast It's own
vote in the mode prescribed Oy its own local
convention.
To illustrate. Had our convention at
Charleston ike that of Saratoga, instructed
its delegates to Chicago to vote in the Ma
tional Convention as unit then, under the
rule, majority of the West Virginia dele
gates would have had the power TO cast the
entire vote OF the State But, in the absence
of any such instruction, the delegates from
this State are not inhibited by the unit rule
from voting as each one NAV for himself,
in his individual capacity, see fit. In other
words thanks to the confidence re-
posed in them BY the Charleston conveu-
tion) every West Virginia delegate carries
his sovereignty under his own hat
Presidents are elected By States and not
by popular maiorities. 1t was so designed
by the founders of our government, as the
only practical plan, under which the diver
sifed and widely separated interests Of our
growing country could continue TO exercise
the political influence in the choice Of rules
so essential to self protection.
The unit rule is, as We have seen, the
adaptation to party organization Of this
constitutional plan of election.
The Democratic party, as party, is more
interested now than ever in maintaining
this rule in all of its integrity.
For wears past the friends Of a strong
centralized government as conradlstin-
guished from the Jehersonian idea of local
seIfgovernment. have striven to abolish the
electoral college and substitute in lieu
thereof direct popular election, ire
sDectiye Of States plan Of cleo
ton. bv which it may be possible fol
the people of two or three pOpulOu,
States ike New York. Pennsylvania and
Ohio to elect President of the whole com,
TRY. and that, too, against the wills and vote,
of all the other States in the Union.
When they succeed in this when the cleo
toral college shall have been abandoned;
when the autonomy of the States shall have
been wiped out and traditional local, line
OF sovereign power oblitrrated; then, aud
no, until then. can the Democratic party
afford. at the bidding Of JoHN KELLY or any
,,her agitaJor. 10 abolish the unit rule il
their National Conventions.