The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-05-02


Rilchigan's Pitiful Plight.
The State of Michigan In the politi-
cal revolution last fall elected Demo
cratic Legislature and Democratic
Governor and now new departure is
taken In tho manuor of electing Presi-
dental electors. The State is usually
Republican by q large majority but
the city OF Detroit and another spot or
two gave large Democratic maiorities,
and there was never a Congress in
which the Democrats had not two or
three, sometimes more members. To
gcrrymander the State by the Demo-
cratic Legislature in the Ohio fashion
was promptly attended to. 1t was
laid out in crooked zigzag districts so
es TO secure seven OF the twelve mem
bers Of Congress So we'll satisfied
were the Democrats with this piece OF
partisan work that they have gone far
ther-and made the presidential electors
electable BY districts, the same as the
Congressman.
The State WAS even laid OH into two
districts for the election of the electors
who represent the two United States
Senators, one district made securely
Democratic as they suppose, thus
making the electoral vote of Michigan
stand eight Democrats TO six Republi-
caGs, II the districts 20 us the Demo
Gratis expect them. Aside from tho
partisan charter Of this piece OF pollti-
cal work it is inadegurating new de-
parture in the generally accepted
mode OF eleeting electors that must
for many years unsettlc the election of
Presidents. There is nothing radically
wrong in tho plan adopted by Michigan
il all the States would do the same
thing. Tie Constitution clearly per.
ntts the States to choose electors in
their own way, but the number must
never oxcosd the combined number of
Senators and representatives, in Con
gress.
On up uhill the late civil war took
South CAROLINA, for tho timn out Of
the Union, that State elected her cleo
tors by her Legislature and away bacl;
in the earlier history of our country
the Michigan plan was in vogue. The
only thing wrong in the plan is that
States often change, are liable to be
torn up every TINA they change, and
be made subject to the most objection
able kind of partisan legislation by
whatever party is in power to gain a
few electoral votes.
The movement In Michigan Is clearly
to steal few Democratic electoral
votes to and in eloctlng Democratic
President. A matter OF eight votes
will count considerable in close con
test such rs is expe. tod.
The arguments used by tbs Demo
Gratis for this change arc that the peo
pie are more nearly represented aud
that it is a step In the direction OF
eleeting a President by the popular vot,
o. the people. II the Democratic arr
really sincere in the position they hay,
assumed, why do they not apply this
honest moda TO the States where they
have for many years had entire con
troll? We hear OF no sach movements
In Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee
Missouri, North Carolina New Jerae,
and other States. whore the Democrats
have both Houses ui the Legislature
and the Governor. I'he Republican
would gain large number OF clector
In these States IL Democrats would ap
ply the same plan to them that the
have 90 Michigan. hut we hear OF II
Huch great desire fug rcterm In thos
States
1t is only in Republican State
Democrats get au acciasntal malorlt,
Ia both branches oT the Legislator
and get the Governor where thoy sho'
such intense desire for reform.
Michigan is indeed reaprng the frui
Of her apostacy from tho Republica
party. She has since last falls elootio
utterly repudiated by sweeping mi
lorlty the Democratic vanaals who ar
using the state as bob to the Demt
cratic kite, but too late to prevent th
State from aiding materially In eleci
ing president who she will uttorI
fepudiAte at the same election