Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-09-30
Misrepresentation in Congressman Evil
to be Cured next Month.

Pennsylvania has twenty four Repre-
sentatives in the lower house of Congress.
OF these, in the Forlieth Congress-, eigh-
teen are Republicans and only six Demo.
Gratis, At the election in 1866 these Rep
resentatives bad respectively aggregate
party majorities of 36.7s4 and 25,345,
making a difference in favor OF the Re
publicans II ,439. According to all rules
of fairness, the Democrats on this vote
should have had at least eleven OF the
twenty-tour Representatives to which the
State is entitled, and the Republicans but
thirteen. By the present dstricting Of
the State, however, the State has been so
gerrymandered that, in effect, ii ,439 votes
elected twelve Republican members,
while the six Democratic members actually
received 292,3 votes 10 their election
Al this election, in 1866, no Democrat
was elected BY less majority than 5000,
while ten Republicans were elected by
maiorities ranging from SIS TO ,884-
OF the total vote cast (596,l4l the Demo
Gratis electing SIX members, polled 292,
35l votes, and the Republicans. electiDg
eighteen members, polled 3O3,!90 IL
other words, it required 4o,725 votes to
elect Democrat, while 16,ST7 elect Il
Republican And these twelve Republl-
cans, elected by IL ,439 votes, are called
''the Representatives OF the people" and
Pennsylvania is SAID to have "a republican
form OF government
This is RepublIcanism-it is RadIcalism
and leaves Mr.. brakes new Constitu
of Missouri, his test oath and Registration
law quite in the shade, because We arc
told by the Democrat, "the number OF
whites disfranchised in this State, ac
cording to the best information that can
lie oblalned, is between twenty aud twenty
five thousand" whereas in Pennsylvania
about one hundred and twenty-five thous-
and Democrats have been virtually dis
franchised by this gerrymandering process
winch has deprived them OF an equal OF
relative representation in Congress. Yet
Pennsylvania has always been called
loyal" and Liberty loving State, Happily
however, the Republicans, who got into
power by the very reverse OF honorable
means, 10 redistrcting the State Of Penn
,ylvania, under the census returns OF 1860
have overcome the matter In order t,
secure undue influence in Congress, it was
necessary to carve out Democratic dis
rricts with large majorties and Republi-
can districts with the smallest possible ma
iorities that would secure election. TIL,
consequence is that there is no possiUl,
chance for defeat in any one of the six
Democratic districts. On the other hand,
with the small majorities in eleven Of the
eighteen Republican districts, aided by
the reaction which has been developed at
every election held within year, the
Democrats are sure of electng a majority
of The members Of Congress in Pennsylva
MIA in October, and they may completely
turn the tables upon their unscrupulou,
opponents If so, as We believe will be
the case, we shall lave another illustration
of political dishonesty defeating its own
purposes, and the vicious contrivances OF
bad men returning to plague their iuven-
tors.-lSt. Louis Republican.