The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-17
eountsd III ns.n slsrr BE- rrxs Nh

he repTesenfed. Ench party will BE-
Represented according % It's Numbers,
e1d Tie &xPoz2<nts of every theuzy
viii b able 10 have = vu3ce Ia the Lar
1 making body - Seen . their Numbers
VIII knfitte them 60 q representative.
The day Ii drawing near when the
people az the United States VIII realize
the fact that governing 5 r0.nfl'y
sparne3y pupu{M1ezls with almost esll-
tfnesxt 20 roaTn in. eyEsy H1au he1Fig
able to end labor and recompen<e faIr
himself Is = vtFy dsf3ersut thing frualk
governing country <zens<ly popslt-
Ixfetl. where the majority Of the pele
| pie must rack their brain 20 deyiie
ways and means 70 keep SOM and
body together. and fnet laws and syts-
lens thai might prove amply suE!i-
Gent in the one case. may prove
Totally ina1equste ia tie other. The
dAy Is coming when the very best
talent the country contzins will be re-
quired 70 guide the ship Of state in
safety fhrocgh the storms that viii
surround her. and before that day
ceInes system must be de-
yiScd and arranged whereby th2f
talent can be secured. In al denseiy
popu1aIeu countess property holders
are In fhe minority, ard those pos
kessing the gift 81 great intellect are In
q very snail minority. Under our
present system Of election neither
Of these classes would be represented
when al had the right to vote. and
the najority who had no property
could make laws taxing or dispossrsg
Of property as they Thought proper
without having 70 listen 70 the reTnofa-
Quite different would be the result
adopted. Although the least in1elh-
gent and poorest classes would always
have the majority of the representa-
tives, the naInorisies viii have the
numter of Representatives their
strength entities them TO, and in order
| to make that number of the greatest
yaIne. they would select the very best
talent the country contained. This
system has been discussed for years.
l IN all The advanced nations OF Europe,
! in Ausfralia and in the United States
The Philadelphia fIaqnirsf Of October
-. 1sD0, contains an able article in
/ favor Of il. and an attempt was made
!: to adept il In the constitutional con-
yents0n OF New York in 1857 In 1863
bill vas introduced into the United
States Senate for amending the repre-
seHtation in Congress. The bill was
referred to a committee, and IN their
report ailusiun WAS made TO the differ
ent systems of voting. Speaking of
the preferential system, il says that it
may be put aside for the present, be-
eaase it Is comparatively intricate in
plan, cumurous in detail, because it
assails party organization and because
some 9f its most important effects can
not be distinctly foreseen- Ii II so
radical in character. so revolutionary
in lis probable effects, that prudence
will dictate that il should be very de-
! Iiberstely considered and be subjected
to local experiment and trial be-
fore it shall be adopted on q grand
| scale by the government of the United
States. In 1860 it was resolved 10
nominate the board OF oyerseers OF
Harvard college BY this system, and
after two years trial letter, in sum-
ming up its advantages, says:
1. It protects the minority from the
tyranny OF the majority.
= Ii protects tho GinoritieS and ma
3orit!es alike from the tyranny OF party
j chiefs
5. Ii permits the utmost freedom OF In
diyidual action.
4 Ii secures the mcss perfect co-opera-
tion aud organization.
5. II gives every elector representative
after his own heart, Shom he has actually
helped 70 elect.
6. Ii gives every Representatives con-
stituencs who are unaninaeus IN his sup
port
I. II gives the representative certain
security in the tenure OF his position
=. It affords a natural and reasonable
method OF rotation in ONCE.
g i, makes II for the interest Of every
party 70 pat forward its very best men.
To- II makes II worth while fer good
men to become candidates
candidate is 60 be chosen, or dozen.
L. In Is available In filling vacancies as
well as Ut general elections
l3 II IL easy for the elestor to cas-. his
vote intelligently.
II II Is not difficult to count the votes
with precision and promrtness.
Is Hardly ballot is ultimately thrown
away.
i6 Every ballot Is assigned sust as the
voter who casts IL desires.
The legislative body OF Denmark is
elected by this system. In this coun-
try some state must take the lead.
Every state reserves the right of de-
elaring who shall enjoy the suffrage
within her borders, and by what pro-
cess ii shall be exercised. II every
state waits until some other state
makes the experiment, ii viii never
be made. Illinois took the lead in re-
form. We followed her example so
far as the action OF our people could
go, nay, We went further, for the con-
stitution that the people of this terri
tory adopted authorizes the legislature
to adopt the preferential system when
ever they thought proper after the
year 1880. This was done in order to
give the people time and opportunity
20 become conversant with the system.
But 1t Is evident now that it viii be
years yet before we become state. Ii
Is almost certain also that another
constitution viii have to be framed be-
fore we are admitted, and our people
viii have ample time TO study and un-
dcrstand this system. so as to engraft
it in our next constitution ii the peo-
pie SO desire. appeal 10 every lover
OF his country 10 take this
eral Butler. ia q lecture de-
livered in Brooklyn Is years ago,
pointed out the fate OF all free govern
ments that had previously existed,
and showed the caiise To be tisurpation
Of executive power, and says: at
would seetn TO be the, American states
mans highest duty. taking warning
from the history Of The past, to shape
the course and current of government
action so rs TO avoid the fate in which
all ether free governments have bern
drawn and foun1ered
Could there possibly be q greater in
c,ntise To uslrpatiun % executive
power than that which is produced by
the present ssStem oil appointments
and elections to office The one co-or-
dluase branch OF the government APP
pointed by the executive, the other
produced by a SYSTEM which must ifs-
egifahly make them sukseryient "a an
ambitious rulers will.
The author OF this system, IN an APP
peal 10 Americans says: Il ipzy he
permitted here To repeat thai / have
always looked forward TO the reception
OF this electoral s. stem By the AIneri-
can people with an ANXIOUS hope. IL
rssAy I've 4 less grateful tnss TO struggle
againstesfete traditions and impiacable
prejldlces In Europe, but All appeal %
the patriotism Of people who shrink
irons no sacrifice ia pursuit of taeir
ideal ot ssalsugsai greatness can hardly
he IN vain. il IS 10 the American re-
public tssat the EYES of the old world
wsss tura Tor spectacle OF what sell