Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-04-19

I ~fNhf0eAAkt W nNu IllO DCO
pie met TO enact laws and select theil
rulers the man who had six ideas wal
considered as strong in intellect as b,
who was possessed OF but a single idea
and it was left to the wisdom Of mod
ern English theorists TO demonstrat,
that he who is welded 10 one possibly
lmpracticable doctrine, and has nj
room in his brain for other necessitici
of a great government, was entitled
TO twice as much representation as be
who felt that there were two ideas re
qulring the attention Of the represen.
latives of the people Such PROPOSE
tion negatives the idea of the. equal
ity of intellect. 1t is not based upon
any original right of men entering
into society, for in that agreement the
sphere Of action Of one being is con
trolled by the sphere of another, and
two men are not equal il by voting
six times for one candidate one ofthen
can compel the other to forego his de.
sire to give two of his votes to q can.
didate representing an entirely differ.
ent idea. 1t is argued that both men
have six votes, and are free TO vote
them in antagonism, and thus TO equal.
ize themselves; but il this right ia
not an inherent one, or does not exist
by virtue Of the theory of pure Dem
ocracy, is it not iyranncal and arbi.
trary exercise Of power to require
them thus to vote TO cqualize them.
selves! The right to cast six votes
for six candidates, If so many are 10
be elected, is a plain and manifest privi-
lege, nay, it is duty, aud any sys.
TEN that eonstrains the will TO vote
for fewer number, or tends to de
prive men of the equality that natur.
ally exists, in order TO prevent the
success of a miscbievous theory, may
much more justly be called tyrannical
than that doctrine which makes all
men equal, and perpctuates ard per
fects the original rale of our govern
ment, that the lesser part shall be con
trolled by the greater.
Tho new scheme assumes that the
elected candidate under the present
system is not the actual representa-
tive Of all Of his constituents, and that
those who vote against him are en-
tirely unreprcsenled. Outside of the
theory Of the majority rule, this may
be true as TO political questions, but
it is incorrect as 10 local aud special
issues. Parties divide upon govern
mental questions, and men are voted
for or against AS representing those
ideas, while if ii were question Of
representation upon local or special
subject they might cast vote pre-
cisely tho reverse Of that which their
party predictions and ideas of gov.
ernmcntal policy require. Very many
men of one political party recognize
in the candidate OF the opposition the
most powerful representative of their
local interests. The person elected
combines in himself both the political
and the local representative. His
status as to political questions is def.
nilcly settled by the vote at the polls
upon the defined issues or the canvass.
The people have there settled those
questions for him, and determined his
line Of action, and il is his duty TO
obey. Yet upon the multitude of
other questions in which his people
are interested, no issue has been made
up, no policy is settled be has not
been voted for or against as their en-.
bodiment, and he is upon those the
representative of the whole people,
and free TO act as the best interests Of
his people demand. In actual prac.
tice we recognize this fact every day.
No man worthy Of the name of rep.
rosentative can take any other view
of his duty. Change the rule, and in.
stead of being the representative OF
the whole people upon the vast ma.
jority Of questions affecting this local.
ity, he will represent special, local and
scctarian ideas, and his people will be
divided upon those Issues instead Of
upon the few leading ideas OF govern
mental policy. Which is better, TO
have six men representing the whole
people upon all issues save those OF
general interest, or to have six men
two Of whom represent this church
one that and another the other, whilst
the remaining two are equally divided
upon the question of whisky or no
whisky, and no one of them with any
defined idea as to his duty in regard
to the leading questions of govern.
mental administrations.
1t is argued that tho free vote will
Danish corruption from our elective
system. | very much fear the op.
posite result / can conceive Of no
device by which the wiles of corrupt
politicians and designing partisans
will be more advanced than by sys.
tenn that will give TO the nominating
convention the absolute control Of the
election To be successful n minority
must have n compact organization
their candidate must be agreed upon
with unanimity and all must bo har,
monious 10 his support. Under such
circumstances bis nomination is equiv.
alcnt to an election. Is ii not inevi.
table that the struggle will be for the
nomination Willnot every influence
that nov besets the voter at the polls
be transferred to the delegate to the
nominating convention! Attbe form.
or the law interposcs its strong arm
and Furnishes the corrupt and vile; at
tho latter the pander may pursue his
nciarious game with impuuity. In
stead OF separating elections from par
tisan influences it tends directly in
the opposite direction, and professional
office seekers will have valuable aid
in attaining their object No indie.
pendent voting can be permitted, or
the candidate will be sacrificed. The
secret ballot will exist only in name
for the certain result OF concentration
of votes, as this system will necessarily
compel. will destroy the secrecy OF
every mans vote. Organization OF
party forces must be carried much
more completely into detail, il a mi
nority in six constituency district
are but little over onc-third, or they
MAJ, lost. nne of tbosp Ia IL assumed