The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-11
C.''bi.t5'|1Is|'I'A 8. G.
Friday ldSfni ing - Deosmb,rf II, 1874.
, sIlnprity hepresen tsslon. /.

tFrtday 9taFning, December II, 1874.
BIlHqrlty Representation.
The beauties and the equities OF
cumulative voting are anely illustrated
in thesleaqlts 81, the recent election in
dllin0is. Tbs system of minority rep
resentation came in updor the oonsti-
tationsl amendments adopted in that
State in 1870. In the vote for Super
intendent Of Public Instruction, the
Republicans .cast 164. .s42s Of 861, ,s57,
thus being entitled to go Of 153 Repro.
sentatives. They elect precisely that
nanaber, and eneh party has as near as
may ybetths representation to which it's
numbeFa entitle is.;@ In the vote for
State Treasarer, and for Congress.
sioHal seatsi there is an average of
166;668 votes for che Republicans,
asd1I98s48 for the opposition. This
gives 9 total poll OF 1854. 500. or pre-
eiAaly 2. 1883 votes for each seat in the
House. This number, multiplied by
60. will equal is4, ,427 votes, SO but q
very small fraction is left unrepre-
,ssnted. seing but l. .226, and averaging
only "a in eaoh district.
As We understand them, these figures
demonstrate that the plan OF proper.
tional representation can be made to
work smoothly, and almost without
friction. The result comes out almost
with ths accuracy of properly solved
Mathematical proposition. This an
Iswers the only reasonable objection
Shat can be urged against it. For it is
Impossible foF any ono having proper
Eegard for true republican principles
<not understood in party sense) to
deny that it is desirable to collect as
near as may be tho whole sense of
community as expressed in elections.
There is as much fallaoy in the sup
posed ssnctity und right of absolute
nalority rule as in Bentham's exploded
maxim of the greatest good of the
greatest number. As in legislation
and oil governmental policies, we
should seek. the greatest good of tho
whole, so elections should DO m ade to
approximate as nearly as possible the
representation of the whole people,
That is, where the suffrage is uuquali-
6ed and unrestricted.
This subject has special and para
mount interest to our people in this
State. whore they suffer from the ope-
zaGon of the rule Of an absolute and
almost unchanging majority. Men in
the possession of power instinctively
cling to it, of course, and greatly
1eeded as is method of suffrage
which will give direct representation
to the great interests of the State, and
bring intelligence. probity, culture and
experience into public life, We have
found the thought Of it very distaste-
fal to the majority who rule. The
view was thrown out by the present
Governor. in his address to the Tax
Payers Convention in 1871; was ably
aeconded by Major Delsny in letter,
which appeared some months since,
and is contemplated in plan of policy
published by Mr.. Cochran, now Sena-
tor from Anderson County. We shall
perhaps have occasion to revive the
subject again, and bring their ideas
upon it into greater prominence. II
.party spirit could be banished from
the General Assembly, if the fear of
losing control Of political power could
DE expelled from the minds of the
members of the dominant party, they
would see both its justice and neces-
sity.