The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-23
Cumulative Voting.
From the Tribune.

UTOW GtS ATtOhto'
Nothing teaches forbearance and moderation
like being under the weather; hence many
truths are now palpable to the party calling
itself Democratic which, in the days of its ire
sistible might, it would have lightly regarded.
The representation of ninorities is at present
favorite topic with its writers and speakers,
and bids fair to remain so for many years to
come. And it is a fruitful and profitable
theme for the political philosopher.
Mr.. Buckalew of Pennsylvania recently ad-
dressed the Senate in an able and lucid speech
in advocacy of what is termed cumulative
voting-that is, of allowing voter to give Gf
he will) as many votes for one candidate as
there are representative to be chosen.
The plan is very fairly set forth in Earl
Grey's work on Parliamentary Reform edition
of 1864, wherein he says:-
THE first of the reforms of a conservative ten.
dency which should suggest, ana one winch
lshould consider great improvement under
any circumstances, out quite Indispensable If
any changes favorable TO democratic power are
10 be admitted, would DC the adoption of what
Mr.. James Marshall has called the cumulative
10 every elector as many votes as tn ere are
members TO be elected by The constituency to
which he belongs, with the right of either Civ
ing all these votes TO n single Candidate or of
dividing them, as be may prefer.
"Ihe object OF adopting this rule would be to
secure TO mtnoritles Il fair opportunity of
making their opinions and wishes heard in the
House of Commons In order that IL might
fully answer tDis purpose the right OF returning
members TO Parliament ought TO be arranged so
that each constituency should not have less
than three representatives 10 choose. Supposing
that three members were TO be elected together,
and that each eector were entitled to three
votes, which he might unite in favor OF a single
candidate, II is obvious that a minority exceed
ing fourth of the whole constituency would
! nave the power OF securing tho election OF one
| member. IL is probable that in general three
| members would be thus returned, each repre-
senting different shade OF opinion among the
voters.
THE advantages this mode Of voting would
| be calculated to produce, and the justice OF
| making some such provision tor the represent
| lalion of mlnorities, or rather, the hagrant In
Justice of emitting TO do so, have been so well
| SHOWN by Mr.. Marshall in The pamphlet have
already referred TO-, and by Mr.. Mill in his
highly philosophical treatise on 'Representa-
i've government that IL is quite needless for
me TO observe that in addition 10 its being
iight IN principle, this measure would be in
stlcI accordance with the lessons of experience
IL ieau In their true spirit"
-Ihe plan needs further elaboration, and
- uo9btless susceptible of improvement, but
she luea Is essentially just. Let every electoI
pe enabled to vote with moral assurance that
ms ballot will avail, even though his party be
less IMAM majority, and its triumph conse.
quently hopeless. Suppose a State to contain
AO,ooy republicans and 5000 Democrats
IKE new hampshire, for instance-why not SC
arrange that these numbers be mirrored in the
strengyh o. tne Ilsal parties in either brancI
OF the Legislature suppose it contain $50, O0C
, Republicans ana Dut 10000 Democrats, lik,
. Massachusetts, not allow the minorltv !,
have such share of the representative IN 2on
> gress and the Legislature as their number