The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-28

When the system which here worked so
we'll is extended to larger constituency, it
will readily be seen that its results might
prove most satisfactory. Take, for example,
the States of Massachusetts, and Kentucky,
the one largely Democratic, the other largely
Republican. The present delegation from
Massachusetts in the House of Representa-
tives, ten in number, is entirely Republican,;
while the Kentucky delegation of nine men,
bers is entirely Democratic. At the last
election in Massachusetts, the Repubi-
can candidates polled, in round numbers,
132, 900 votes, while the Democratic candi-
dates polled 6O,OOO. Yet, the districts being
SO shaped that the Republican majorities
were evenly distributed, every Republican
candidate was elected by large majority,
and the 10000 Democratic voters of
the State are at this moment with
out Representative in the national
Capitol. If the delegation were fair expo
nent of the political sentiment of the State,
it would stand seven Republicans to three
Democrats, and it would have SO stood if the
Democratic minority had been able, through
the agency of the cumulative vote, to concen-
trate its strength upon three candidates who
would have been certain of an election, in
stead of frittering it away upon ten, every
one of whom was certain of being defeated.
This is the argument from the Demo-
cratic standpoint but from the
Republican side it is equally for
chile. At the last Congressional election in
Kentucky the Republicans polled about
10000, and the Democrats about IL, 900, the
Democratic majority being overwhelming in
every district except the Eighth. In justice,
the $4,000 Republican voters of this State
were entitled to at least two Representatives,
while the Democrats were entitled to but
seven at the most. But, under the present
system, which runs the theory of the rule of
the majority into the ground, the $4,000 Re-
publicans of Kentucky and the 60, 900 Demo
Gratis of Massachusetts are practically disfran-
chised, as far as national legislation is con-
cerned, the wrong done in the case of the one
being no less grievous than in that of the
other. Thus far, the most practical remedy
| suggested for evils of this nature is the sys-
tenn of cumulative voting, but we fear that it's
general adoption is very far off in the future.
|
| THE BRULBS ON THE WAR PATH
The amiable disposition of the gentle savages
of the Brule band of Sioux Indians is we'll dis
played in a despatch forwarded from Chicago
yesterday containing intelligence sent from
Fort Sully, by Gen. Stanley, on the 9th inst,
to General Sheridan. The Brules are under
the leadership of the chief who planned the
attack at Fort Phil Kearney, and having
massacred company of United States sol
diers when they were surrounded by more
than ten times their number of his merciless
confederates, hefances himself able todefy the
whole power of the Government. AS an evidence
of this disposition he carries matters with
high hand even at the gates of a national
fort. He compels friendly bands of Indians
assembled in the vicinity to abandon it, SO
that the white men may have no red allies
near at hand. He threatens the invasion and
destruction of adjacent reservations occupied
by Indians who are now peaceably disposed.
His warriors amuse themselves by Haunting in
the face of the agent who represents the
American people the scalps of white men they
have killed. And we do not wonder, under
these circumstances, that General Stanley
is firmly convinced that there can be no
peace and no living near the hostile Sioux till
they are soundly thrashed." 1t is the universal