Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-06-09

chosen, or TO "cumulate' them at will on
one or few names, is sufficient TO ensure
practical representation Of the whole poo
pie.
Under the new constitution of Illinois,
which is TO take effect next year, the rep
resentatives are to be elected three in each
district, upon this principle. In South
Carolina the Taxpayers Convention have
laid the subject before them, and have
strongly recommended similar plan to
the people, ~ n compromise between the
majority of voters, who levy taxes, and
the owners of property, who pay them
and the leading state officers join in the
recommendation. In Pennsylvania there
is a bill now before the State Senate pro-
viding for the election OF all directors OF
common schools in the same way. In sew
eral other States the reform has been re-
garded with favor, and there is some pros
poet OF its adoption even in Nebraska by
the Constitutional Convention which is to
meet in June.
In England and in Switzerland rapid
progress has been made in preparing the
public mind for a similar change. 1.-THE
Representative Reform Association" in
London, and the Association Refromiste"
In Geneva, have done good work in max
ing the subject understood. The Parlia-
mentary Reform bill of 1867 established
number of so-called "three- cornered con-
stituencies," from each OF which the mi
nority are able to return one of three mem
bers. The new Public School Boards, es-
tablished by the Forster Educational bill
Of 1870, are elected on the "totality princi-
pie; - and by recent circular of the Elec-
toral Reform League we see that Mr.. Hare
and his associates count with confidence up
on ENGRAVING the principle of personal rep
resentation on the Ballot bill now pending
in the present Parliament.
In Switzerland the Grand Council Of
Neuchatel have almost unanimously de-
clared in favor OF the adoption of like re-
| form. A similar movement has already
| been begun in the British Colonies Of Vic
| toria and Australia.
Thus the progress already made by Mr.,
Ha res general plan, since its first publica-
ton in 1857, is wonderful. It's advocates
are already numerous among the foremost
political thinkers of every country. In
the titlc-pagc of Mr.. Simon Sterne's recent
work on Representative Government
the late NJ. Provost Paradol is referred ia
as having declared ii to be as evident, and
almost as important an impovementin pol
tiles as the application of steam power was
| in mechanics. The same view is held by
many eminent minds aud the literature
| Of the subject has already grown to an eX-
| tent, rs is shown by q long report made
upon it last month to the Geneva society
which will furnish any one who desires tC
examine it in all it, aspects, with nbund
ant materials for study.
The practical applications which hav,
been made of the plan hitherto are but ex
periments, and 60 but short distance to
ward the complete plan for the actual rep
| rcsentation of every voter devised by Mr.
Hare. But even these experiments hav,
shown that much can be done to remed,
the corruption and injustice that now grow
out of party tyranny, without any violen
change in our elective SYSTEM We trus
that the subject will attract more and NOR,
attention from intelligent and patriot,
men, and that whatever il wise and practi
cal in the reform will be substituted fol
the crude, and, in some respects, most de
fective methods of representation nov
| practically. Y. Ereninq Post.