The workingman's advocate., 1869-11-20
CHIUAGO & PHILADELPHIA
SATURDAY, Nov. 20, 1859
REPRESENTATIVE REFORM,

that advocated Representative Reform by
means Of the Proportional Representation
$50 far as practicable) Of the several inter
ests which should be represented in the leg
islative bodies. We might refer to our col
umns, February 8th, 1868; September 18th,
1868; September 26ih, 1858; December
lob, 1865 but We dcttst egotisD
and pig hesdedness in papers as well as
q persons, and we will merely express the
hope that the discussion Of the subject Of
Representative Reform, whether from the
editorial chair or in legislative halls, may be
alike courteous, statesmanlike and able.
We have read the plan for securing pro-
portionate representation which has been
submitted to the public by Hon. Joseph
Mgdill, Of our city, member elect Of the
Constitutional Convention about to assem-
Tie at Springfield a man Of integrity, brain
and energy, and one who is aware that self
sacrifice and humility, coupled with self
respect and usefulness, are the best marks OF
greatness one who will not sacrifice
a principle to a favorite plan; some
parts Of which we can heartily sp-
prOve-its simplicity we admire; but
while in politics as in mechanics we re-
cognize the Importance Of simplicity, we
must not in either case too far sacrifice to
it utility. Mr Medips plan provides that
there shall not be less than tDo nor more
than three members elected from any cleo
toral district. This leaves the Labor party
out in the cold as far as a seat is concerned.
We consider these numbers too small
We recognizs the Importance of pursuing
the district system, not because the people
are accustomed to it, and that their pTeju-
3ices would make them stubborn in yielding
". We haze too much respect for the peo-
PIE to thirk them too stupid to accept i'm
provements in government as they do in me-
chanics; but we think that the district system
should be preserved because It is useful
and the people are aware Of it, and it might
be preserved under almost any plan. But it
Is not necessary in this day Of railroad, tele-
graphing, newspapers, turnpkes-and trOt-
ting horses, that districts should be as
small as they were in old times, when it re-
quired one hundred and twolty (l2O) spar
ate republics to govern Greece, which all to-
gether is no larger than the State Of Rhode
Island.
x tk;rIy ,l.ot ~ onrract;ov oF th;. Ill
ot too smafdistricts, and the recognition OF
too Tcw interests would involve such q COM
plication Of Mr.. Medilrs plan as to render il
more Objectionable on that score than some
other plans which We have seen and com
mented upon, and 10 which we lave sug-
gested notifications. We are not prepared to
say heWever chat Mr.. Medill's plan could not
be made quite practicable, nor that it would
not in its operation be a very great advance
npon our present crude and primitive mode
we will not call it system-of organizing
public opinion and bringing it 10 bear in an
orderly and efficient manner upon the ma
king Of laws.
1tniUeTse, the sovereignty is in the Creator,
and it is in its creator that the creature
created ljUss and mOUes and has his BEING
There are but two kinds Of government 10
the world both exist by the assent or con
sent of the people, ami al governments are
created by the people, whether in their stu
pidity, pusilanimity and degradation, or in
their intelligence and energy. These two
klHds Of government may be called ciUil
government and military government res
pecJively.
Civil government exists by the voluntary
consent Of the people; military government
exists by the assent Of the people accorde /
through fear, and lasting ODly SO long as the
force that keeps the people down is sufh-
lient for that end.
government is corporation, whether
IL be tie government of a co -opeI atiye socie-
", traces union-a city or county-a
State or a nation.
A corporation is an artificial parsonage !;
an artificial man which man creates in Lis
own image, endOwing it with these three at
tributes Of will, understanding anL power Of
operation and The difference between soyer
eighty and government is just toe difference
between the Creator and the c-eauon,
and the connection between them is
quite as intimate Rud essential. Ey.
try corporation has the will power ia it's
legislature-its power Of understanding-in
tts Judiciary department and iss power Of
operation-in its executive. These three
departments must be coordinate but dis
tUct; their forms and proportions must be
marked cut and properly balaDced-the ar
ufca parsonage, the corporation or the
government must have a symetrical form
iOr beauty and utility are always found to-
gether; the form Of the government is there
tore its constitution.
Next month tue representatives Of the
people are to assemble at our State Capitol
10 inspect the present form of our State
government-that is, our Constitution and
after due delibeTatiOn to recommend to our
people such notifications in the form or
this artificial -government-a,
10 them shall be deemed most Desirable
We trust that that convention will report to
its constituents, the people, that their crea.
ton, the artificial man that they have made
70 rule over them, though it requires q lit
Tie phYsic in the region Of the judiciary and
tae executive department Of its organization
is most ailing in the UiscerG and the feet
those parts which come in contact with the
stawart shoulders Of the electOrs-(the nAtu'