The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-05-25
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.

1t is sometimes objected to, the system of Gu
mulative voting which is now urged by the
more thoughtful men of both parties, that it is
a surrender of the Just powers of the majority,
a concession of what is now lawfully and prop
erly held as the prerogative of the party in
power.
The first answer to such an objection is this:
That the situation of our State is such as to'de-
mand concessions which might not be demand
ed under other circumstances. That is very
narrow and suicidal policy which insists On
yielding nothing in such crisis as this except
what can be demanded as legal constitution
al right. That is mere partisanship, not patriot
ISM 1t is literally "giving up to party what
was meant for mankind"
We must make any concessions which will
tend to produce peace in our State and which
can be made without surrender of principle.
The principles of the National Republican
party must never be surrendered but in the
present anomalous condition of our people the
call is loud for some wise plan which shall give
to the property and education Of our State a
large voice in public affairs. .;'
What is our form of government? It Is
Representative Democracy. What is the es-
tential idea of Representation? 1t is the col
lection of the aggregate will of the people, the
whole community of those who have the right
to vote.
Does the rule which permits one hundred
and one men out of two hundred to hold all the
political power of q community carry out that
essential idea3 Plainly not. 1t is in truth un-
republican, denial of all voice in public at
fairs to ninety-nine out of tsto hundred. Gu
mulative voting removes this evil and injustice,
and gives to the ninety y-nfne, not the power OF
one hundred and one, but power proportion
ed to their number IF cumulative voting be,
therefore, concession, it is concession to JUS
tice, to political equality, to true Republican
representation. Il
| But have our critics or objectors ever thought
that this is one of those wholesome rules which
"work both ways?" Have they reflected that
if it reduces our party power in some counties
of our State, it correspondingly increases our
power in other Counties? ~
IF Charleston and Beaufort will no longer
under the new rule, be represented solely by Re-
publicans, neither will Greenyille and Spartan
burg be represented solely by Democrats. Those
counties where now every Republican vote is
thrown away, will there be represented in part
by Republicans, and thus all local interests and
peculiar wants will be fairly represented and
cared for.
;. But take broader view, and look little
farther into the future. The vicissitudes of po-
litical parties are proverbial. The ups and
downs of individual politicians are scarcely
more remarkable than those of great parties
Complete political Revolutions are accomplish
ed in very few years. Our own party is moi
exempt from this law. The Republican party
will endure, we trust, until its principles are
imbedded in the law, the conscience and tht
habits of all our people; If new issues shal
arise we hope it will move on in the same grand
work, and so live forever. But is it not to b
doubted that its ascendancy may sooner or Ia
ter be broken. Now, we say to all our friend
that the just and true rule of representation
which we grant to our political opponents il
our day of power will be our protection ane
shield and hope when the day Of our party de
feat shall come. Then, instead of having NJ
voice. simply because we have lost the MAORI
ty, we shall have all the power and influence
to which our number will entitle US.
We deny, of course, that cumulative voting
will tend to destroy our party ascendancy. Or
the contrary it will only tend to secure it,-fol
it will check the recklessness of party legisla
ton and introduce the wholesome influence O
an able and significant opposition.
But in addition to this, it will protect us in
the day of political edversity, which will soon
er or later come to usas it has come to all 9th
er parties.-C Charleston Daily Republican.