New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-22
CUMULATIVE VOTTNG.

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 Minorities is at present
fayerite topic with its writers and speakers,
and bids fair to remain SO for many years to
come. And 1t is 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 a voter to give (f
he wild as many votes for one candidate as
there are representatives to be chosen.
The plan is very fairly set forth in Earl
Grey's work on Parliamentary Reform edition
of 1891, wherein he says:
"Thc first OF the reforms OF q conservative tendency
which should suggest, and one which should consider
Indispensable ii any changes favorable TO democratic
power are TO be admitted would be the adoption Of what
Mr. James Marshall has called the cumulative vote );
that is to say the principle Of giving to every eector -
many votes us there are members to be elected by sne
giving oil these votes to single candidate or OF dividing
as may po0np b, rule would be to secure to
minorites fair opportunity Of making their opinions
and wishes heard II the House Of Commons n order
trins Members 10 Parliament ought to be contributed
that each constituency should not have less hen threc
bes wers to be eSoted osoSs ecor
entitled TO tbrse votes which no "n,p
e1ceednS fourth OF the whole constituency would have
the powor of securing the election OF one member
probable that In general three members would De tus
returned each representing different shade OF opinion
among the voters. -, ,sno oo,
euated TO produce aud the justice Of making somo such
provision for the representation OF mnores or rather
we sa reerreS to- and BY M @ his highly hosph
quite needles for me to observe that addition 70 its be-
ing right In principle this measure would DC ~ strict ac
coranco with the OF experience read IN tncir
true spirit"
The plan needs further elaboration, and Is
doubtless susceptible of improvement, but the
idea is essentially just. Let every elector be
enabled TO vote with a moral assurance that
his ballot will avail, even though his party be
less than majority, and its triumph cdnse-
quently hopeless. Suppose State TO contain
10000 Republicans and $1,000 Democrats--like
New Hampshire, for instance-why not 40 ar
range that these numbers be mirrored In the
strength of the rival parties in either branch
Of the Legislaturef Suppose it contain 10000
Republicans and but 1000 Democrats, like
Massachusetts-why not allow tho minority to
have such share of the representation In Con-
gress and the Legislature as their numbers
will justifyi Suppose Massachusetts, were to
chose her ten representatives in Congress
under this system, the Democrats could say
"By running but two candidates and placing
" the name of each five times on Our ballots
eve can make their election certain and
they would thus lie supplied with motive
r. e, To-
Great Reforms are always effected slowly
and it may take years to render this sufficiently
familiar to insure its adoption. We feel con-
fdent, however, that the principle is sound
and in some form will ultimately be adopted.