The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-01-23

W'snes o. we whole people. II mm luGt "
make any approximation at al, ought u aot
to be made an closely NJ possihlsf That
the weight Of parties IN Consrsm does nos
In one case 10 Eve. fairly represent their
weight In the country. proved by care
fully prepared statistics.
The evil Ia doubtless diminished BY divid-
ing the state into small electoral districts,
each returning one member. A party which
is In the minority, taking the whole sssss
together. may happen b have . local ma,
ioritg u one or more DISTRICTS. But why
leave the minority at Ii mercy Of chance
II the number Of districts Is very great, Il
is true that the operation OF what ia called
the doctrine Of chances would assume csr-
tain degree Of regularity. II, for instance,
there were million Of districts, each con
tanning only ter voters. the relative strength
Of the two great parties would be represent.
ed with some degree Of accuracy In the mum.
Der Of candidates which essh would elect.
This, however, could not be expected to oc-
cur in any practicable subdivision Of q
country like the United States
The most interesting part OF the subject,
however, ia the indirect influences which q
true system Of representation would exert
upon the citizen. The whole community
would be more interested in the result oil
elections. The intelligent merchant and
laboring man would feel . respons lbility
which be is now irclneC &c sniik. He
would see to it, that the ticket really ex-
presses his sentiments and demands his re-
Pect. The greatest danger OF = free country
is the neglect Of political duty BY the indus.
trious and sober part Of the population.
The history of the French Revolution affords
a melancholy illustration of this. II every
man IL America could be induced to regard
the exercise Of the franchise as = serious
duty, we should hear less about the filth
ness Of politics and the inherent dangers Of
democracy. Now, If each party has 10 the
legislative body only the strength to which
il has proved itself entitled by It's strength
at the polls, each party would strain every
nerve to bring out its full force. Repabli-
cans would not neglect to vote, simply be-
cause their party Is sure to win, or demo-
Gratis because their party is sure 10 lose.
Each would endeavor by casting large
vote, TO Obtain large number of represent
atives in the legislative body.
II is matter Of common remark, that those
elections which involve great questions Of
national honor or policy, and therefore call
ont large vote, are conducted with more
ability than others, and tend more TO keep
alive in the heart Of every citizen that feel
ing Of personal responsibility which is the
life blood Of the state. The result Of such
an esger rivalry would be beneficial in sew
eral ways. Political machinery would be
controlled by the best men in the community,
as it ought 70 be. Politics would cease 70
be profession, IN the meanest sense Of the
term. That most dangerous and disgrace
ful motto, that ito the viclors belong the
spoils," which has done more than anything
else to corrupt the state and endanger its
permanent existence, would no longer Do
reckoned among the ruling principles of
American politics.
Some If the English writers on the sub
ject Of the representation of minorities,
among them Mr.. Mill, believe that the form
alton Of ''third parties" and the substitu-
ton Of personal confidence in the candidate
in the place Of attachment to political Or
ganizatiOn, would each be attended BY great
benefits 70 the community. But the exist
ence Of two great parties in this country,
dividing opinion aud power between them,
seems to have become = part of our political
system, and is thought by many to be es-
to the psrmanence Of civil liberty
II Is important to notice that even II our
party system remains as is, If every Amer
can must be either d democrat or a republic
can, there is no reaso why the strength of
these parties 10 the legislative body shall
not be regulated by their strength through
out the country and that a system by
which this result could be effected. would
also exert a powerful and beneficial iDtiu-
ence upon our national life and character.