, 1873-06-09
neutrality-suspicious.
Lcttcr from nInyor HIctlill.


nIAron's OFFICE, Cn1cAuo May 81, 1873.
Hon. Samuel r. Hunt, oh'a con'ftntfonat conpen-
DEAR s.n: You ask mo whothcr tho eystom
Of ,ninority-roprcgontatio nloptod in Illinois
oporatoB to tho satisfaction OF our pooplo2
I unhositatingly reply In the affirmative. It
proves IN practice to DO just what waB promised
and predicted in its bohnlf. The experiment is
nB groat improvement on tho old one-Bidod sys-
tom OF representation. It ia far more popular
now than It Wna yonr ago, hoforo tho flrst cloo-
tion undor It, Then there woro doubtB MS prac-
not DO ablo to comprehend it, and that confusion
would result at tho polls, that bad men would
slip into tho Legislature by ita means, that It
would enablo the minority to rllo the majority,
and that tho intoroutH Of the pooplo would bo
harmed or sacrificed.
Not ono Of those representations Of oril Inns
como to pass. Tho yotors understand tho new
systom without difficulty or much explanation,
and discovered nothing abBtruso or incompro-
henaiblc in It,. They were quick to discern that
1t gayo thom increased powor and liberty Of ac-
tion, and that tho old and arbitrary restrictions
in tho freedom of tho bnllot were removod, aud
thcy will bo slow to oonsont to yicld back tho
cumulative vote or totality representation.
democratic than tho old. Tho whole mass Of
tho people arc now represented In the popular
branch, instead Of moro majority us formerly.
Every yotor, whethor q Democrat or Republican,
bly, to represent him.. Neither party Is now uu-
Represented In my district. Tho minority 10 no
longer practically disfrauchisod, as wns provious
ly tho case. The vote Of tho majority is not
impaired or disturbed. Tho stronger party at
the polls hayo control of tho House, but tho
woakor one ig represented in proportion to it's
strength. Tho unjust monopoly Of reprosonta-
tion is brokon. Every Democratic district elect
ed two Democrats and ono Republican, and cv~
cry Republican district two Republicans and ono
~ ~ m IA
rule onlyoccurred when acanaidato Of tho strong
or party was unpopular, or thGt of tue wealor
party tho filter man to such n degree as to COIL
atrai enough Of his opponents to voto for him
from thcso exceptional casca, bccaueo they woro
as numerous on ono aldo as the otlor-gainer
a,,l loser balancing each other.
It was noticeable faot tlht, talon as whole,
the so-callod minority membors :" were the
ablest mon. Several Of tho strongest and most
conspicuous mombers wero sent to tho Assembly
by tho "plumping " yoto of the minority, Bhow-
Ing that tho weaker party, as rule, wero moro
careful and conscientious In making selcctionn
Of representatives than tho majority eido. This
result Was predicted by tho frionds Of tho now
system wion advocating it's adoption boforo Tho
people, but waB hootol at rs wholly improbable
by ita opponents, who now confess their orrore
and ndmit ita yoriflcation.
Minority representation In Illinois has boon
demonstrated to DO an actual roform-not a
change lnorcly, but an improvement in .ho rel
ence Of popular government, and tho people nro
pleased with tho operation Of tho experiment,
and intond to givo It q fair and thorough trial,
At frat 1nany wore hoBtilo to its adonton ]; but
fow of them would now vote for its abrogation.
Those who were ut tho outset in doubt as to itE
wisdom arc now its nupporters, or willing te
awnit future Developments.
The only opposers of this new system nro Of
tho Bourbon 6rood, who forget nothing and
learn nothing, or tho c}an Of Court House parti.
saua who boliovo in dlsfranehisiug their politi
cal opponents from motivesof unSorupulous aol
hslrneaB ind narrow-rnindod il1iborality.
It is to DO hoped that your convention will al
lonst submit thia electoral and Representative
roform M q separate propostion to popula'
| ratification or rejection, and let tho poopo do
| has generally boon in tho loud, nnd novor iii tht
rear Of tho column Of progress. Worry respect
fully, JOSEPH hIEu1lL.