, 1869-10-02
REPREaHETATlvE REFDRM.

Our reca1t articles upon minority repre-
scnsntiop, sa means Of reforming railway
personal 14P9p 4EPss:.e sozpoE.tions;A and upon %
strong expressions, from some sources, oil
the hope that these subjects would be prom
a,ently considered in our approaching Con-
stitutinal Convention. Probably the p1in-
cipa1 objection TO their consideration will
be found in the almost hopeless skepucism
Of the people generally IS to the prnctica-
bility Of working any reform Of
what nre regarded as the neoes-
sary evils Of democratic government.
It seems TO be indolantIy assumed by many
that, under republican forms Of govern
ncnt, pa1tyism must be tbs necessary road
to Office, and denagogism tho principal
means Of elevation. It is set down as IN
axiom that, inpolitics, respectability, eharac-
ter, probity must take back seats, and that
Office and power must, in tho main, be
confined TO class Of "a1tful dodgers" !"
slippery, superficial, trimming, time-serv-
Ing, and destitute Of convictions. AL who
retain any faith that this order Of things
can be overturned or reversed are regarded
with oomplaeent or compassionate emile,
LIS enthusiastic who have still TO cut their
wisdom teeth in political nnairs.
To throw down into this arena OF apa-
hetic unbelicf the proposition that
the asoendancy OF demagogism, the fury
Of partisanahip, snd much Of the cor
ruption OF politics are the results
Of . wrong mode Of electing pub
fie ofaoers, and could be curod by resorting
10 mora perfect one, Ia bold undertak-
ing, and requires TO be backed up
by strong and sound REASONS to
render it anything less than Qui1otic-
Nevertheless, this proposition, hrst In Eng
land, and then in the United 6tates, has
been taken up, and, after reflection, sin-
cerely and warmly stated aud implicitly be-
1ievcd by many Of The ablest men nov iv-
ing.
A select committee Of the Senate, last
spring, consisting Of Senators Wade, Of
Ohio; Buekalcw, of Pennsylvania; An
thony, Of Rhode islana; Rice, Of A1kAnsas
Morton, Of Indinna; Perry, Of Connect
cut; and Warner, Of Alabama, reported
unanimously in favor Of a bill to
provide for c]ecting members Of
Congress upon the plan Of cumulative
or free voting, which is one VI the pro.
posed plans Of representative reform The
bill provides thst eaeh clector shall have as
many vutes fot members Of the House oi
Representatives as there are members tc
be elected from his State; and that he may
cast them with unlimited freedom for any
citizen Of the State, and all Of them for one
candidate, OF one for each Of tbs member
to be elected; or that he may distribute
them in any proportion be secs fit among
several candidates. Az tho same mode d
voting might be applied to the cloica O.
our members Of either house OF the Legis
latu1e, it may be worth while to examin.
the points claimed for it.
. 1t is evidently freer than the presen
mode Of voting, under which party com
. | binRnons leave the voter practically IL
, choice but to vote for one Of two or thse
leading candidates, or to throw away hi
vote. l. is inferior to 'spersonal repre-
sentation, as explained in our recent a1.l
Gle, in several respects. First- Ths
: n much larger number Of votes nigh
, lie stcumulated On a particula
, candidate than would elect him, and Ii
, excess would be throSn away. Secondl,
Tint the majority Of the voters Of th
State might vote for persons not elected
while, under the systom Of personal repre
, sentation, not mngle vote in the State ]
, wasted. all Of them being cast for member
, actually elected. Thirdly. As tho menbe
a1crtni by la1re vote would hare no ruoI