The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-23
The Charter and Its PrOspects-The
Disfranchising Clause.

The Charter and It's PrOspects-The
Disfranchising Clause.
A great deal of speculation is going on in re-
gard to the constitutionality of the cumulative
voting principle involved in the new charter
passed by the Legislature for the city of New
York, and as to the action of Governor Hoff-
man on the bill, which is still in his hands
Some respectable lawyers publish opinions
unfavorable to the constitutionality of the pro-
posed system of voting, and probably as many
legal gentlemen as might be needed would
furnish opinions on the other side To men
of common sense it appears, at least
in conflict with our received ideas
of republican government to authorize
one elector to cast nine ballots
for single candidate for Office. The argu-
ment that every elector has the same privilege
is mere begging of the question. If eight
thousand electors vote each for nine separate
aldermen the candidates receive eight thousand
ballots EACH If five thousand voters divide
their forty-fve thousand votes between five
candidates the latter receive nine thousand
votes each, and are all elected. Thus mi
nority of the people elect q majority Of the
officers, and democratic republican government
is at an end. It is no longer the due repre-
sentation Of the minority, but the destruction
of the rights of the majority.
1t is immaterial what course Governor Hof-
man may think fit to take in regard to the
Charter bill. If true to his democratic prin-
l. LII -,
to see how he can affix his signature to such
law, especially as, by the lavish use of the veto
power, he has established the precedent of
refusing his assent to bills on other than con-
stituhonal objections. But the republican
Legislators will probably pass the charter over
democratic executive against the reformers Of
New York, and hence we may safely reckon
that the election provided by the charter
will take place on the 21st of May
next. There is, however, one provision
in the law that needs amendment. |
AS it now stands, requiring thirty days resi-
dence in district to entitle an elector to vote,
twenty-five thousand citizens who change their
homes on the LIST of May would be disfran-
ehSed. We can scarcely suppose this to be
the intention Of the Legislature, and hence we
insist that brief supplementary law should be
at once passed abrogatng this provision SO far
as the present spring election is concerned.
This is a simple act of justice to the citizens
of New York, and there can be no objection
on the part Of any member of the Legislature
to rghting such an evident wrong
Rumored Change In the British Cabinet.
The London Daily Ne,os gives currency to
the rumor that change is about to take place
in the British Cabinet; that Mr.. Gladstone and
his friends will retire, giving place to q con-
servative Ministry, and that a general election
for Parliament will follow at an early day.
The government defeat, it is predicted, will
take place on Mr. Fawcett's bill relative to the
University of Dublin, which has been
made Cabinet question. A general
election would not of necessity follow
a defeat of the Ministry, and it is not i'm
probable, judging from past experience, that
Mr.. Gladstone will yet be able to bridge over
what may appear to be very difficult passage
in his official career and still retain power.
Queen Victoria presided at Cabinet Council
which assembled at Windsor yesterday. Ad-
vices dated in London last night state that it
was asserted positively in the metropolis
ct that hour that Mr.. Gladstone will not
resign, but will make saving conces-
sion to the High Churchmen and ultra
Protestant spirit of the opposition by pledging
the Ministry not tn endow a Roman Catholic
University in Ireland This will secure o
majority against Mr.. Fawcett bill in the Com
mons, but will be very displeasing to Cardinal
Cullen in Dublin. There is no doubt
that the popularity of the English Premier has
suffered during the past eighteen months, and