The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-11
Minoritv Representation.

opinion that minority representation should
be abolished. 1t only another form OF
saving that minorities have no rights
which msjorities are bound to respect. Ii
this be true in principle, then the govern
ment, all its machinery, and its legislation
is subject to merely the accident OF an mao
rity, and that majority might possibly De
so small as to virtually amount to nothing
jim other words one half of the nation,
less n few votes, would be wholly unrep-
resented IN its views and wishes except as
the slight majority might choose TO deter
To the sentiments of the opposition, In
fact upon the majority principle in its
practical use it is possible for an actual
minority to rule and govern the country
In most states plurality" elects, hence
whenever the majority chances to be divi-
dcd the minority obtains possession Of the
government. In the state Of illinois, where
minority representation prevails ills fact
is exempli6ed as literal fact. The vote
of the democrats end the third party
united are largely in excess of the re-
publican vote, and yet the republicans
are calling for the adjustment of minority
representation, AS they chance to have
more votes than either of the other parties
singly they put themselves forward as a
majority party and found their pretensiOns
upon that basis. To those who scan the
political horizon and examine the results
of the late election, nothing is more clear
than the fact that a large majority Of all
the people of the country are opposed to
the financial policy advocated by the re-
publican leaders. Whatever success they
have gained by their ''pluraEties" issimply
due to the division of the opposition, one
portion Of whom carried their financial
doctrine to the extent of sepa-
rating from and acting indepen-
IDENTIFY Of the main portion of the
party with whose views and policy they are
much more nearly in accord than with the
republicans who gained success only as
plurality" Any one can see that if there
had been no national or third party in the
field, and the financial issue had simply
been between the democrats aud the
republicans that the latter would have
been overwhelmingly defeated, and the
democrats would haye had the semblanee
Of q solid north as much so as of a sole
south. A summary of the votes shows
conclusively that the republicans. as re.
CARDS the whole people, are clearly in the
minority at the north, and only represent
the views and wishes of a minority. The
main issue everywhere was between them
and the democrats, SO far as number:
are concerned, because those whC
constitute the third perry were stil
further removed from them than they were
from the democrats, and the latter would
have received their votes had they no
been acting as a separate organization.
A simple majority rule" is not the per
lection of representative government, auC
the injustice of subjectiDg the minority t
the absolute dictation of bare majorit!
has long been considered by intelligent an
observing minds as one of the problem
which requires better solution. If tn
voice of the people as a whole is the meas
ure Of political opinion and the guide 70
the administration Of the govern
ment, the nearer the approximate
is made to the general will of the natiO
the better il subseryes the purpose of
representative form of government. Ur
less there be some provision by which tn
minority can be represented by its ow
agents and their wishes made TO have
direct force and bearing in behalf of thei
opinions, it would matter little whethe
they be ruled by one tyrant or thirty
the tyranny of mere majorities is as potter
tial and unbearable for the time being q
that of an emperor or an absolute monarch
Ii is not true that the theory of our go'
eminent is founded upon numerical mi
jorities,-any one conversant with the col
stitution Of the Federal government, an
the complex system of checks and ba
ances which were designed to counterat
and prevent the principle of mere majorit
rule, will at once admit that such was nc
the intention of the trainers of the So
preme law Of the land. The president
the United States is not elected by simp
majority of the peoples votes Unite
States Senators are not so elected-theI
have been several minority presidents-an
even members of the House of Represent
tives are elected oftentimes by mere ''plura
itY, just as is the case in the last electio
where very considerable number on bot
sides, and especially among the republ
cans, were 80 elected,
The minority representation" princip
as engrafted into the constitution of tn
state has thus far worked better than VIZ
anticipated. 1t is principle leading i
the right direction, and is intended to Civ
minorities their just weight in the egisl
ton of the state. Whether IL be til
height Of human wisdom or not, it is lon
advance upon the doctrine of simp
majorities and gives an actual represents
tiOn and expression to minority whic
would otherwise be unheard in the halls {
legislation. 1t operates decisively agains
mere 'pluralities', especially plurality
of members in the legislature, and {
course inteIferes to that extent wit
the arbitrary doctrine of party discipline
The country does not exist for the benefi
1t n