Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-03-09

II UsNPoe'sSnh hO'm Vi koVSIDm60L. u.
under which the freely chosen repre-.
sentat.ves OF the people have in charge
the interests Of their fellow men, and
legislate for the public welfare, 10 the
natural and appropriate system for
this country. 1t 10 the only form Of
government that Ii TO be endured here.
In the thirty eighth number of the
federalist, 1t 10 elOquently declared
that no other form would be recon-
eilable with the genius OF the people of
America; with the fundamental princi.
pies Of the revolution, or With that hon.
orable determination which animatea
every vOtary of freedom 70 rest all our
political exper imeDts on the capacity
Of mankind for felfgovernment."
30 firmly rooted was this conviction
In the minds Of our fathers that We
find imbedded In the Constitu ton Of the
United States the provision that !" the
United States shall guarantee to every
state In this Union = republican form
OF government"
But II popu lar self-government is to
endure, 1t must be 30 framed aud ad.
justed from time TO time as to com.
mand the respect and admit ration OF the
people and serve the purposes of its
| creation. If while retaining the name
and general sim ilitude of republican
form of government, the political sy stem
40 degenerates as TO involve the aban-
| dODmept or virtual contradiction of the
vital principles underlying republican
| ism, IL becomes q sham and failure,
and merits universal scorn and con
| tempt.
The most fundamental requirement
Of q republican form Of government is
the fair representation of the people In
the law. making body OF the State. And
fair representation Is necessarily repre-.
sentation based upon population, and
| approximately in proportion TO the
popula of the respective voting dis
tricts. j say approximately, because
an exact apportionmeut in accordance
| with population IL unattainable, and
special and peculiar circumstances may
| In some instances require slight de-
parture from the general principle. But
the rule must be represent alton accord
Ing to mum bers, AMI any departure
frcm It's observance must be treated AZ
the exception and afford coRent reasons
for it's justification. Such equality OF
| representation is q logical necessity,
resulting from the nature and functions
Of republican form OF govern
uent. For such government is
| the political instrument by which
equal men, possessing equal rights and
imbued with the principles OF Ameri
can liberty, are 10 govern and protect
themselves and their interests.
The right to vote must exist. But
that is not enough. Our property, our
liberty and our lives are subject TO the
pervasive and sovereign power of leg
islation. The right to be heard,
| fh % rhnaan fatt a..
the legislative halls, must therefore
exist. Yet that ia not enough. We
are American freeme n, recognizing the
dignity and equality of our common
humanity, and jealous In the mainte
nance of our individual liberties and
civil equality. Then, the right to equal
representation must exist, and the
voice of the majority must control.
Eternal Justice demands II. To deny II
Ia tyranny. This is no new or strange
doctrine. The trainers of the Declare.
tion of Rights In this State in 1916 de-
clared that the right In the people 70
participate In the legislature is the
foundation OF liberty and OF all free
government" And In the Delaware
CONSTITUTION of 1881, we find II stated
that "all just authority In the iDstitu-
tions of political society is derived from
the people, and established with their
consent to advance their happiness -
These declarations are instinct with the
spirit OF civil and political equality,
But why, it may be asked. dwell so
loIg upon automatic truths ? DO not
all well regulated minds in this com
munity admit as self-evident PROPOSE.
tions, that. for the purposes of political
II ciety, all men are equal that they
lab hos ftsal rtxy 70
representation should be in accordance
with population and that msjorities
should control minorities Yes but
10 recognize truth is one thing it i,
} another thing to fully realize its i'm
jportance. And when IL behooves us as
> citizens to test our governmental sys
ten by the Fundamental truths Ct poll
tical science for the purpose OF learning
whether there has been departure
! from them, and, IL 70, to regulate oul
! political action in such manner ~ may
} tend 10 correct the evil, TOO much stress
cannot be laid upon the Importance O.
: those truths.
} If we be permeate6 with the spirit o
civil liberty, II we understand and
3 chesish its vital principles, we shal
. With steadfast purpose and a nobl'
: enthusiasm be- vigilant champions IL
$ the cause Of popular self government
e We shall be quick TO resent any blow
= struck at our liberties, and shall retir,
I from the conflict only when our politi
= cal institutions rest upon the firm basi
D of JUSTICE and equality.
. Bearing these considerations in mind
: let us consider the present. condition 0
4 representative government in Della
l. ware. Does it or not conform to the ele
r rpepfary nrlucip plaA which hhnuld nm
e derlie a republican form OF govern
d meut? You will pardon me for bring
l. ling TO your attention some statistic
}, bearing upon the subject in hand. TIL
!, figures Ar. taken from the official cen
3 sus for 1870.
q In that year 1t appears that the popu
If iatiop of New Castle County was n,
ZIG, of Kent County -, S74, and of Sus
y sex County 36,018 New Castle havinl
VI an excess of population over both tn
y other counties COIN bined, amounting u
~ y, ,S24 persons.
" Under our present system eacI
81 county is entitled TO three Senators an,
r lseven Representatives in the Genera
}? Assembly. Dividing the population o
y the respective counties by the numbe
i of Senators and Representatives re
II Ispectively TO which each Is entitled, VI
II reach the result that in 1880 New Casti
T. had one Seuator for each %, ,906 persons
y and one Representative for each IL 10
,r persons In her population; Kent ha'
II one Senator for each IL, ,958 persons, an,
B. lone Representative for each 1867 pei
10 sons in her population and sussex ha
re one Senator for each zoos persons, an
., lone Representative for each 5,145 pei
Of sons in her population. And 10 day
.LN