Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-07-31
Is Minority Representation a
Remedy?

ASGihCuy
Since by the working of our institu-
tions the minority has always had
about its share of members of the Cen
eral Assembly, why should the notion
of minority representation frighten US
from propriety, and cause us to make
a tumble of ancient habits of election
which have given so close an approxi-
nation to proportional representation :?
There are admitted evils in our govern
ment. There is common declaration
that it has worked public debasement.
The public ear is familiar with the alb
solutely damning admission that our
political system drives men of culture,
character, and capacity from public af-
fairs, and gives them up to the incapa-
bic, the mercenary, and the corrupt.
1t is common to hear the affirmation
that while political rights are stOutly
asserted, there is no attending sense of
political duty, and, therefore, there is
general acceptance of the doctrine
that there is no reason for taking part
in public affairs save for pay. ~. 10. 81
We call republican institutions a
success in America, because we live
and, by means of continent of cheap
land, we prosper in spite of govern
ment; but if we were to take the sum
of these declarations which no one
thinks to dispute or if we were to take
in all the incapacity, unfaithfuIness,
and prodigality of government in all
its ratifications, State, county, and mu-
nicipal, it would appear an appalling
failure. 1t appears remarkable that in
all this confessed debasement the minds
of earnest, aud patriotic, and intelli-
gent thinkers can find chief imperfec-
ton or chief cause for their zeal in
the lack of proportional presentation
of parties, locally, althot sh they have
it generally. And suppose that by the
acceptance of some one of the numer-
Gus and con fiicting schemes we shall
have succeeded in getting not only the
proportional representation of parties
at large, as we now have, but in cut
ting the proportions fine locally, what
is to be the practical result in the Leg
islature of the State? no
What representative rights do the
majority in the General Asse mbly al
low to the minority the closer are par
ty lines drawn, and the less the con-
sideration allowed it A powerful mi
nority effect of tightening the bonds of
party discipline on the majority, nnd
thus of raising its arrogance. The pet
ty sentiment of proportional represen-
tation vanishes when the minority rep
resentative reaches the place of action,
and then it is found that all this fine
play comes out in a practice which de
mics that the minority have any rights
+ in the administration of government.
Thus the invention wholly fails at the
point of action. 1t may do ali that the
.fondest fancy paints in the election,
but when the minority representatives
meet the majority, they will find that
they are not recognized as having any
rights that the majority are bound to
respect. t...... I'll.
s To evolve anything new in proper
tional representation, these inventors
must provide way by which this mi
nority may have its share of legisla-
ton. Without this it will come out
just where the minority is now. When
It has reached perfection in what its
most sanguine advocates fancy, it will
not change in the least the temper or
power of parties in the General Assem-
bly,; 1T will not give the minority any
more weight in the government of the
State, and it will not have any qalities
that can be said to promise the eleva'
tion of our political system. ...
The plans for the improved proper.
tional representation are about as nu.
merous as its advocates, and each is
quite ready to testify that the plan o1
the other isimperfect. But all Of them
seem to have this vice: that they as
sumo party divisions rs bases for con
stitutional enactment and their present
proportions as finalities, and that they
send to make them so. They ignore
the healthy operation of an occasional
revolution of parties. Their method.
send to prevent it. But it is found ir
practice that, no matter how accurate
ly the minority Is represented in pro
tion to its number, the majority viii
control legislation. And it is better so