The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-24
MINORITY REPRESENTATION.

The existence of two great parties in q
free government is conceded to be essential
to wise legislation, economy, in the admin
istration of government and honesty and
efficiency in the civil service. The nearer
the two parties approach to an equality in
numerical strength, the better areithose
xhings secured. 1t is only when political
party has very large preponderance of
the popular vote, and when by such pre-
ponderance it seems entrenched in power,
that 1t becomes corrupt, legislation is had
for the benefit OF favored few at the ex-
pense of the many, offices are distributed
not on account of the honesty and efficien-
cy OF the applicant, but as rewards. for
partisan services, and the public expendi-
lures become wasteful and extravagant.
With mankind as it Is, 1t seems impossible
for party, whose majority is SO great that
1t seems impossible to overcome tito main-
tain its honesty and efficiency or to admin
lister the government wisely and economi-
cal!y. With parties, however, approach
ing numerical..equality how quickly is all
this changed. We see honesty and effici-
ency impaired to every branch of the pub
lie service, public appropriations and ex-
penditures placed at the lowest possible fig
ure, fraud and corruption promptly ex-
posed and the wrong doors punished, and
legislation carefully and wisely entered
upon. We see this both In state and ma.
lion, and each party acts honestly or cor
ruptly as feels itself secure or insecure in
power.
Why is this 1t is simply because a
party, when once in power, sees that it
holds its power by public sufferance that
1t must answer to the people for all its
shortcomings that it 10 watched by vigil
liant foe ready To take advantage of all its
mistakes and that any departure from
the true course will cost it the popular
confidence But with parties, as they now
are, there is always greater or less num-
Der of legislators in every legislative body
opposed to the majority, and the mere fact
OF this opposition prevents greater fraud
and corruption than now exists. The dis
tribu ion of parties, always gives minor
ity representation in congress and in state
Legislatures, and 80 essential has this prin
ciple of minority representation been
deemed, that some states have taken steps
to secure it without trusting to the partic-
ular strength of this or that party In certain
sections of the state. The effect of this
will be-and Is where in force-that no
political party, no matter what may be its
numerical strength in . state, can secure
such a majority in the legislature a. to be
dsngerous-we say dangerous, because
party legislation 10 always SO, as the politi-
cal history of the country has demonstra-
ted time and time again. The experiment,
SO far, hAs worked well-among honest
men there Is no opposition to it--and we
may expect to see the day when It win be
adopted by the nation at large and by every
state In the Union.
This principle of minority representa-
ton, however, can be carried further, and
should be, whether 1t becomes the settled
policy of the state and nation or
not All the reasons thatcan be urged In
favor of full and fair representation of
the minority In legislative bodieas apply