Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-21

tfnlE Is 1t not the only test OF the popular
will, where differences of opinion exist?
No one can successfully gainsay these
truths. These principles are not to be
banded about, affirmed at one time and
denied at another 20 meet the aims or needs
OF partisan politics. They lie at the root
OF civil liberty. and upon them all good
men, to whatsoever political party at
tached. should take their stand.
The gross and glaring injustice and in
dignity fastened by the existing Constitu-
ton upon the citizens of this county is
without excuse or palliation. tits a stand
ing atfront put upon your manhood. II is
an open, ilagrani and cOntemptuous disre-
gard of your fundamental rights and Of
the vital principles of repubicanism. 1t
is burning disgrace to the State of Della
ware.
1t has been said that "the true test of
good government is its aptitude and
tendency to produce good admins
| tration." 1t may with equal truth be
affirmed that the trne test of an unequal
and false system of representation is its
| aptitude and tendency to produce
thoroughly vicious legislation. Had the
| opportunity ! should bring to your atten-
| ton a long catalogue oil legislative acts in
this State of disgraceful and burtful
nature, the passage of which would have
been impossible under any properly con-
stituted system of representative govern
ment. But this occasion will not permit.
1t is time that the growing evil of our
representative system be arrested and cor
rected. How shall this be done? The
importance of this inquiry demands a
more elaborate consideration than can be
| bestowed upon il tonight
| It.may be said generally, however, that
| in the construction of any system looking
to the equal representation of the people
| great care should be observed lest the
1E. .ta.sI
/ should in substance violate the principle
on which the rule is based. For instance,
the city of Wilmington contains large
| majority of the people of this county, and
| has it within her power to dominate tue
county with respect to the selection OF
members of the General Assembly, what
| ever may be the rules Of political parties:
! Furthermore. Wilmington has special
and peculiar interests and industries
which she desires protected and cherished.
If under our county system representation
strictly according to population were
granted, New Castle county would elect u
clear majority of all the members of each
branch Of the General Assembly. A leg
islatiye majority thus coming from New
of her numbers and the more thorough
political organization generally to be
found in an urban population, having
power to select and elect that majority, it
might happen that this city with her esti-
mated 10000 inhabitants would through
her representatives control all the rest Of
the State and legislate for her own inter
ests to the prejudice of the rest of the com
munity, This would be the production of
the very evil, namely, minority rule,
against which any system of equal repre-
sentation should carefully guard. There
fore, under our county system more could
not reasonably be expected or demanded
tation according to population as should
approach equality as nearly US possible
without incurring the danger | have just
alluded to.
But there is no reason why the great
principle of representation according tC
population should not under u properly
adjusted district system receive full
tive system would accord with tht
principles of local self government, result
in more thorough representation OF the
diversified interests OF the State and dc
away with the danger of county prepon
derance in the General Assembly. i
would be the only complete remedy fol
the evils from which the citizens of thi.
county suffer in the matter OF representa-
ton. 1t would be just and beneficial tt
} all the people of the State. 1t would giv'
equal voice to equal men for the proteC
ton of their rights and liberties. 1t woulC
be the recognition and realization of on
common manhood 1t is important, also
that the number of Senators and Repre-
sentatives should be increased. Th
9 Legislature is too small. Seventeen
/ Senators and 50 Representatives, elected b.
districts, would make not only a stronge
but safer legislative body than min
: Senators and u Representatives. Tn
Q larger body would more completely rep
g resent the diversified interests of tn
nj, Inf
e less opportunity for the successful exel
/, else OF improper influences IN matters Q
: legislation. It is to be hoped that tn
I great question of representation will b
9 dealt with in statesmanlike manner b
! the coming convention.