, 1870-07-09

states, II well ~ by it's own, But this does
net sut&ee to eIp1ain tho uuperiorftT a. ia
canstitution. Ons Of the most important con
ditaons of progress Is ernancip4tion from trn-
dihon and prejudice and in this respect new
communities have ths fewest shackle,s "West-
ward the course OF progress takes its WV
1t ia one of the BEST Of the MANY excelisnt
features Of our complex Federal system. which
leaves such large powers Of independent action
70 the States. that We can try proposed re-
forms on small scale and test their value.
before making them general Under our avs
TEN Of separate State action, any one Stat,
which happens to be wiser, or bolder, OF more
mobile, or even more rash and daring than
the others, can initiate ard test reforms :v
which all may profit II they succeed, and h:
which only the State that mskes the *
renments can suffer il they pruve unfor!l-
nate. Whist is at first . mere plausible theory
can be tried in practice on small scale, AMI
all the other States can watch Its opera
ton and profit b; tho warning il it fails; by
the example if it succeeds. Our system OF IN
duce reforms with less hazard, but it hastens
their general adoption. Successful experience
ls worth all the theoretical rcasonin.; IN thu
world; and when tho value Of . reform has
been established by ttial, there is no further
ahcnlsy u II making p1ose1ytes; Nobody can
compute tho time TINT would be required to
bE7ng the whole country to venture npon mi
nosity representation; bat II the Illinois e1-
pertinent works well, it will grow in puLuc IA
For Tar more rapidly than it could By mere ar
gument and discussion. Our system Of sepa-
rate, independent States gives US the advsn-
tage Of trying every new piece Of political
machinery in small working model before
rlsklng great outlay Of capital in what NAV.
after al, turn out to be only plausible
crotchet.
The Illinois scheme Of minority represeuta-
ton, or, more properly, Of cu1minatiFe voting,
fyfAHt a a a n 7ark IL stu
gress will be watcled with much interest, In
each Senatorial district, three members are TO
be chosen Of the lower brunch Of the Legisla-
tnre; md the peculiarly OF the scheme is,
that each elector may distribute or concentrate
hls votes as he pleases- He may give one
ordinary manner OF be may give three votes
to one faEorise candidate; or (Which probably
would not often happen) he may give two OF
his votes to one candidate and one vote to an
other There is an intrinsic fairncss in allow
ing tho olector this FREQ disposal Of his votes,
equitable and proportionate Representation Of
the conatituen lies than prevails under
the present system. In every district
where one Of tho two political parties
is in clear and acknowledged minority,
It viii give that minority one Of the three
to entitle it to one. But in districts ,shero
the parties arc pretty evenly balanced, the
operation OF the syatem ii moro doubtful In
suSh districts each party will nominate q
full ticket, as neither will be willing to
make public confession OF inferiority- Il the
tickets arc weak, or if there should bo weak
men On either, il gives great chance to one
popular independent candidate. whose friends
NAV easily elect him bv concentrating all thoir
votes. The new System mny thus Bring into
Tue Legislature few members Of uncommon
ability and weighto Of character, who can follow
heir honest Judgment untrammelled by party
obligations. II this should bo one Of its
fruits, the experiment would be moro than