The advocate., 1892-01-13
MINOR ISSUES.
Of THE ADVOCATE:

sion Of the three great economic ques-
tions, finance, transportation and land,
we should not neglect the minor issues.
There are other subsidiary questions,
which, while they may not be Of as
pressing importance, yet are by no means
Of secondary importance. They may be
considered as the minor keys, yet they
are as necessary to the complete har-
mony Of the whole as the leading ques-
Elons. The reforms for which we con-
tend are not alone In the maladministra-
ton of public affairs, but In many cases
90 beyond that and affect the very constl-
tuition and organization of the govern
ment itself. Before we can expect to do
full and exact justice In any OF the pro-
posed reforms, all offices, from the high
est TO the lowest, must be made elective;
and then, and not till then, will we have
q government Of the people, for the peo-
pie and by the people. The spoils sys-
tenn that is now largely perpetuated by
the appointing power, not only has no
part in our form Of government, but
should have no place In our present
civilization. II is relic Of the dark
ayes, when might made right. But GER
talnly, at this day and in this country, we
ought to recognize the new dispensatiOn
that "Right is more than might, and JUS
Elce more than mail" The day Of spolia-
tlon has past, and we should tolerate no
principle In politics that does not pro-
pose for lts sole object "the greatest good
to the greatest number" How can we
expect to carry out these reforms based
on right, justice and equity, while we
deny the right Of equal suffrage to our
mothers, sisters, daughters and wives?
Denying intelligence, virtue and morall-
ty the right to vote on questions Of pub
lie veal on account Of sex, while we
allow males, possessing no qualifications
but ignorance aud vice, to vote their pas
slons and rrejudices. If there should
be any limitation on the elective fran
Shise, 1t certainly ought to be restricted
by ignorance and vice alone. Equal
suffrage to both sexes Is surely the first
demand of right, justice and common
sense. Another source Of oppression in
this country is the tyranny Of majorities.
Why q minority are not, In justice, as
much entitled to representation in pro-
portion to their numbers, as majority
can not be explained on any reasonable
hypothesis. Exclusive majority repre-
3pentatlOn 10 in fact equivalent to the dis
franchlsement of the minority. 1t is q
SubversIon Of the rights Of minoritles
and an innovation on that broad princi-
pie of equality enunclsted by the declara-
ton of independence. A system that
would obviste this wrong and secure to
all parties and factions representation In
Legislative bodies prOportionate to the
popular vote received by each would
give at least respectful consideration and
fair hearing to the policies Of the
minority, would tend to moderation and
due deliberatlon In the enactment Of
laws, would temper justice with mercy.
Pro rata representation would do more
10 all OF these directions than what is
claimed for the vsto-that relic of one
man power, which does not always &C
compliah justice, but is frequently
welded to defeat the will Of the people
and subserve the ends Of tyranny. "TAxa-
tion without representation is oppres-
- d -. - -.AaA-n.l "A 80. a..