Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-30

~ s@tc -cs-~sf. III tiltt Detec tR4c >s2iS>
stand as equals. Despite greai varia-
tons IN slxe, Pc palataon, resources, de-
veiopment ana wealth. each State 10
entitled 10 two Senator's and no
more. ana they have always
been chosen. not by the peo-
pie. bat by the State, - represented BY
the Legislature Such 10 the positive
requirement Of the federal constita-
ton. Although the members Of the
National House Of Representatives are
elected by the people themselvcs, still
the individuality OF the State 10 pre-
served. by the requsremement Of the
federal constitution. that Representa-
tves shall be appornoned "among the
several states" They are not appor-
toned 10 the people OF the United
states, but among the several States"
leaving to each state the right TO say
how they shall Do elected. whether at
large, or by districts. As the House OF
Representatives has ever been regarded
as the more popular branch OF the fed
eral legislature. it has been kept close
to the people by the district method of
election, and very properly 90. Tho
executive power OF the federal govern
ment IS vested in Preeident-of WHAT
of the people, No-''of the United
States OF America" And the federal
constitution prescribes that he shall be
elected, not by the people, but 10y
the states. Of which he 10 the Presi-
dent. The states act by means
OF agents called electors. The
Federal constitution, in prescribing the
selection of these electors, still retains
distinctly the individual idea of the
State, and says, each state shall APP
point, IN such manner as the LeKisia-
ture thereof may direct, number of
electors, equal TO the whole number Of
Senators and Representatives to which
the State may be entitled in Congress"
There are two distinct recognitions Of
state individuality; first, IN the use Of
the words leach state shall appoint"
and second, in assignment of electors
to the states, and not TO the people, in
the same manner A. members of Con-
gress. The idea OF the constitution is,
that they are the agents of the state -
such; and not Of tho people. Each
eiector being an agent of the state and
of the entire state should, under the
spirit of the constitution, be chosen by
the entire state, "in such manner as
the Legislature thereof may direct"
In compliance with this provision and
intent of the constitution, electors have
always been chosen BY the entire state,
usually By election on . general ticket,
but in some instances by the State
Legislature. Doubtless an appoIn tment
Of the electors by the governor Of etate
might be authorized by the Legislature
thereof, for in such case each appointee
would be an agent Of the whole State,
rs his authority would come originally
through the acton Of the entire State
in The election of the Governor. But
this mode Of appointment, we believe,
has never been resorted TO. But it has
remained to Democratic partisanship IN
depart entirely from the original con.
ceptlon of the constitution, for the sake
OF party advantage, for the sake OF
stealipga few electoral votes to which
the Democracy 10 neither morally nor
legally entitled, unless they possess the
entire State. To gain this temporary
advantage, the Democracy 10 willing to
destroy the identity Of their state in
the federal UNION. II is display OF
the same "rule or ruin" spirit, which
led one wiag of that party to secede
from \ union which il could no ionzel
rule to its advantage. Such is the
position taken BY the Democracy oil
Michigan in the passage OF the Miner
electoral bill, which provides for the
election Of Presidential electors by dia
tricts. This method of securing party
advantage IL clearly as demonstrations
"a was the other Democratic method
secession. In no sense can an eiectol
chosen IN a congressional district, OF
an eastern, or . western district, bs
considered an eiector Of the State OF
Michigan. The federal constitution
knows only electors Of States. and no
OF Districts, and no person, who ha'
not in some manner been appointed b,
the entire state. can be deemed ~
elector OF that state.
Democrats have laid great ssress up
on the words Elm such manner as IN,
Legislature thereof may direct" with
cut considering that any provision q
the constitution Is Liable 20 be qualified
by The other terms and the general in
tent Of tho entire instrument Tn
"msnner" must b in accord With th,
design of the constitution. Demo
cratic Interpretation If the federal con
ssitution have not stood the tsst u time
and the Miner iuiquity will ~ s>amps,
oat, ss wss the other Democratic IaIqui
sy-.ecesssoa.
rass rSAr asAl.
/ The Leg stature easnot TOO promptly
psss Representative Whites hili 10 ii