New-York tribune., 1867-08-23
THE REPRESENTATION OF MIYoRITIES.


THE REPRESENTATION OF MLNoRIIIES
The amendment grated on the Reform bill
by the House Of Lords, providing for the
representation of minorities, and subsequently
accented by the Commons, gave rise to highly
interesting debates in both Houses OF Parlia-
ment. 1t was vigorously opposed by some OF
the leading Liberals, and Mr.. Bright made
speech against it very remarkable lor iVs eio-
auence and power; but it appears TO us that
the supporters of the amendment had Dy lar
the best of the argument. Ike grounu Oh
which it was mainly opposed was that tne
representation Of minOrities is unconsttutlonal'
This position, it strikes us, is altogether un-
tenable. So far from the proposition TO give
minorities a fair representation in the natlonai
councils being in conflict with the British Con-
stitution, it commends itself to us as being
strictly in keeping with the spirit of that Con-
sttution, of which the principle Of popular repre-
sentation in its widest and most liberal appllca-
ton is the very essence and life The assumption,
too, is false one that the representation OF
minorities is Incompatible with government ny
the will of the majority. Let minoIites nave
their representatives--still the majority must
be. from the very nature of the case, the
ruling power. By conceding representation to
the former, you merely give them the privilege
of taking a part in the deliberatiye proceedings
of the national parliament or congress; Dut
the ultimate decision Of questions by means OIL
the vote still remains, and, where the VOte
determines, the viii of the majority OF necessity
preyails. Common justice demands that minorl-
ties should have q voice in the public councils,
and considerations of sound policy recommend
the concession. In the able speech in which
Lord Cairns introduced the amendment IN the
House of Lords, he pointed out most lucidly
the advantages to accrue from. the system OF
minority representation. He showed that III
minorities could return members to Parliament
seats would be provided thereby for per-
sons whose claims upon constituency
would be the claims of intelligence,
freedom from any popular excitement
or prejudice, and independence, and who would
constitute an extremely steady element LII
times of popular excitement; that the same
ness and mOhotony OF character prevailing
under the old system among the representa-
tlycs as regards the expression of Their pontl-
cal sentiments would be broken in upon that
in discussing public questions the great adj
questions were viewed not merely by different
localities, but by different bodies of men in
the same locality; that the greatest possible
local satisfaction among the constituencies
would be gained that the inyidiOus division OF
constituencies into classes according to ratea-
biity. or their stake in regard to property,
would be done away with that the asperity OF
political feeling which sometimes prevails IN
large constituencies would be greatly softened ;
that contests would be very much diminished
in large constituencies where contests are most
expensive-sO expensive, he said, that the mind
almost recoils at hearing the sums which they
cost; and that with the practical abolition
of contests, there would be freedom from ex-
pense, freedom from the irritation of political
feeling, and from "the curse of all elections
bribery These are weighty arguments in
favor of the plan proposed by Lord Cairns,
and adopted by Parliament; and although Its
operation will at present be very lnconsider-
able, being limited to only twelve cOnstituen-
cies, returning three members each, there can
be no doubt that should it result in all the good
anticipated from it, there will be in time
great extension of these three -membered'
constituencies as The London Times calls them.
At any rate, Lord CaiInss amendment involves
the admission of principle destined to work
a radical change in the whole British repre-
sentative system. Its adoption seems 70 US to
be the first step toward equal electoral dis
tricts. AS regards the general question of the
representation of minorties, public opinion in
this country appears to be fast ripening in
favor of some plan whereby such representa-
ton might be secured and not too soon. The
spirit of the American Constitution demands
that every citizen be represented in one way
or another-if not in the majority, then in the
minority,
POLITICAL AFFILT1TTON or THE TWO