New-York tribune., 1883-03-17

that self Government is a failure7 Yet, IL we
consider Il closely. tha. conclusion is altogether
unwarranted. Tho same persons VINO see in'''
clearly the almost uncomfortable faults OIL eA
listing law-making bodies woulG lnnnltely
rather live under laws made by such pouieS'
defective OF vicious as those laws are, tnhh
under laws made by hereditary rulers, OF Dy
persons virtually appointed by monarch
And they can give abundant and conN mcing
reasons for that choice; they can show tlla'
although our system is defective, 1t results III
a higher degree of public welfare on the "nolo
than any other system yet devised.
The question is whether our METHODS arc uo'
capable of improvement. We do not wan' "
lose their great and manifest benehts' ou' VIC
do want if it be possible, to find some way "
get rid of or lessen their serious detects rr"nN
recognition of the fact that there are deiec's,
and that they are increasing, need not anu
does not imply forgetfulness or disregaiu VI
their merits, and the public nina VIII pe 'o''
careful in considering means 10 aVolo '.i0 Va
listing evils, not to run the risk OIL lmpalrlis VI
DESTROYING well-proved excellences ~ uoe'
not answer the purpose to remove 'no "a"
making mower further from the people. Ia
neriments have been made in that dlrecliOn'
and have not been attended with success. Nor
hos mora limitation of tie elective franchise
roeultad in GOOD. Some of the worst law-mak-
inc bodies ever known in this country have
been products of restricted suffrage. In order
70 p1eser2e what is best in our system, the Tree
will of tho whole people must be fully ana
fairly represented
The worst of all existing evils appear to spring
from the exclusive use of the district system
in electing lawmakers. That system, though
il would ordinarily he preferred by the voters
Is really partial denial of their freedom to DE
represented by whom they please. II n voter
in Erie County wants TO he represented III 'ho
State Legislature by citizen OF New lorA Vi
BROOKLYN, or if q voter in New York or BROOK
lvn wants to be represented by resident OF
Buffalo, why should he not have the right 10
be so represented There is no practical diff
Guilty in the way, as many may suppose. A
sufficient number of votes, no matter where
located within the State, might he entitled to
choose n member of either house, or TO choose
a member of Congress. In practice, voters
would commonly prefer candidates of their own
neighborhood, as they do now But II the can
didates offered by the local machinery OF their
marty were not satisfactory, they could unite with
others of like mind in other parts of the State
to concentrate votes enough upon well-known
and capable representative of their opinions to
cause his election in place of some nominee IN a
district. The 12S candidates having the high
est member of votes might then he declared
chosen to the lower house, and the thirty-two
having the highest number of votes for Senator
might be declared elected to the Senate; and so
of members of Congress. If the people see tit
to vote for representatives whom they deem
more capable or worthy than any residing
within their own districts, why should they be
deprived of the liberty a? Politicians of The ma
chine variety would not like this mode OF selec-
ting lawmakers. But possibly that Is a good
reason for giving it serious consideration.