Litchfield enquirer., 1878-11-14
The Gerrymander.

the trick of suarranging congressional or leg islative districts inthe interest of one party as to throw the majorities of the opposite faction into a fewdistricts, while the party in power lsdistributes it's nlajorities over many districts For instance, in Indiana, the Republicans have so arranged the congressional districts that, in 1876, though in a minority of near 5000 votes, they elected nine out of thirteen congressman. Democratic congressional majorities amount to Is, 556, were concentrated in four districts which gain an average Democratic majority of 4, ,639, each. Republican congressional ma hand, so distributed as to cover eleven districts with an average Republican majority of only 1,181 in each. In the same year Ohio sent twelve Republican members out of twenty to Congress. This year, while carrying their state ticket, the Republicans could elect but nine out of twenty congressman. The state had, in the meantime, been redistricted by Democratic legislature. Owing to a similar Democratic '.gerrymander," Missouri sends but one Republican congressman to the next Congress, instead of four who sit in this.
 In fact it is the practice of both parties to gerrymander congressional and legislative dls- tricts, often completely neutralizing or revers- ing popular majorities by this trick of the pol itician's trade. The adoption of minority rep resentation would completely. ebviate this marked weakness of the district system. Then districts would be very much larger. The number of members apportioned to them might vary with changes of population, but the limits of the district would always remain the same.
 Were there no other reasons for giving mil norities representation, the abolition of the gerrymander would be a sufficient inducement in itself for the adoption of the new system.
 The election results of this State give gener- al satisfaction. We dc not believe even the Democracy are very sorry to have the Sails bury Man of the Sea drop off their shoulders. The triumph of Hawley was a glorious victo- ry, and the election of Republican legisla- ture saves the Republican State ticket as well as secures United States Senator. The Green back movement is no doubt the chief occasion | of this overwhelming Democratic defeat. Of the'8, 900 Greenback votes cast probably 5000 were Democratic and the attempt to lure them back by concessions proved failure.
 No one will lament the defeat of Tammany in the recent election. We cannot, however, ''enthuse" very violently over the protpect of | of reelection of Roscoe Conkling to the | United States Senate Nor do we particular | ly enjoy the extension of the Cameron lease of power in Pennsylvania. The present Senator of that name was afraid te lead the Republi- can attack on the Soft Money party of that state, but he stands ready to profit by the vic tory he did so little toward winning. It is one of the most discouraging symptoms of modern politics that, however elections result, they gen. orally enure to the benefit of selfish politicians in whom intelligent, candid people have very little confidence.
 The scoundrels who stole the body of the late A. T. Stewart from it's grave were guilty of what witty Frenchman considered worse than a crime-a blunder. They supposed that large reward would be offered for the return of the body-and no questions asked They mistook Judge Hilton. That gentleman is ! not favorite with Jews or with women, but he cannot be swindled as these resurectionists proposed to swindle him. He will pay 25,- 900 for the discovery of the body and theil conviction otherwise, not penny.
 The President will recommend either tha
 he weight of the silver dollar be increased, O that the amount of it's issue be limited. Issu ng gold dollar, and also silver dollar worth sixth less than the gold dollar, is an absurdity that needs the immediate attention of the thre hundred and sixty or more statesmen who vii
 meet at Washington next month.
 Massachusetts boiled, last week, the heavi est vote ever cast in that state except at pres
 dential election, and Butler is about 30,OO( behind Talbot. The regular Democrat candidates had but about 10000 votes. But ler's theft of convention turns out to hav been all unproftable one.
 Ben Butler with that modest piety whic always characterizes his public utterances, in ssts that the stone the builders rejected, i
 Massachusetts, last week, will yet become tn head of the corner.
 Prof. Watson goes to the Wisconsin Univel sity after all. People wishing to pre-emp : corner lots in the new planet Vulcan, or in an of the numerous asteroids the Professor Ina discovered, will therefore address him at hi , new residence.
 Gambetta announces it as his opinion ths
 the Berlin congress ''has done nothing towar establishing really durable peace" Mo ! people are gradually coming over to that vie, . of the case.
 Nnu prnvfnn