THE ELECTIONS, &c.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 284, 29 November 1881, Page 4

THE ELECTIONS, &c.

To TEE EdITO* OP TH3 " EvEHIKG MAIL." £ib,— Can you fiod space lor a few extracts from Professor Newmans pamphlet od the reconstruction of oar institutions ? 41 Tbe mode of taking votes is foc■damentaiiy vicious, and gives Bcope to tniacbievoaa intrigue. If one seat it for by three candidates A, B, and C, of whom A and B are alike far more aecfpiabie to the constitneecy than C, yet by the splitting of votes between A sad B perhaps C is elected, though he would be n jected decisively if the qae«tion were proposed, Will you have C ? " J "The tysteos of plumpers whe D there are two eandirlaits . gu lly foster? intrigue and. Uncertainty. The only plain and fair way is to divide the constituencies co ihat each may bave bu* one represeDfa'ive, snd then make 'them vntpfor or against each candidate separately Whichever of tbe candiiattg has the greatest number of affirmative votes is evidently the least unacceptable to the constituency/ " We have a right to the best Government — legislative and executive which tha intelligence of the age ran afford. la order to obtain trig tbe Grst reqaisite is that intelligent, uptight, wise men be ejected. But that They shall legislate with fresh and c!*ar minds, not wearied out with overwork, not detracted by topics too numerous, not heited by wine, not sleepy Iron the hour ot tbe ni«bt, not hurriei by the whipper in of tte party. Nay how i 3 any party iifluenca co;.sistent with tha solemn duty ol a legislator? How any member can regard himself conscientiously pledged to vote with a party I never could understand." " A right organisation would destroy Party .Legislation ; but ahs ! Party Legislation, UDder the specious name of parliamentary government is exactly the thing which existing parties glorify and uphold as the essence of English wisdom. ]S T one of the reforms hitherto put forward touch or pretend to touch this cardinal mischief." " Attendance of members is not compulsory ; and a few members can and do pass laws affecting liberty and honor." "Numbers of Bills become law unknown to a majority of the House ; indeed the topics on which the mem' bers have to vote are co various that few can possibly understand them. This reconciles so many to vote as a whipper-in requests them." "A very great grievance is tbat Executive Ministers have any legis'ative place at all. To unite executive, legislative, and judicial power, is the definition of the most complete despotism." "The party-system excludes the ablest man from the Ministry unless be has what is called a 'power of debate and of reply,' to which readiness fluency, and ill-nature signally contribute." " A trade union — unknown to the laws and constitution— is constructed and called a Cabinet It virtually enpereedeß the Privy Council, which they have perverted and degraded. Each member of a Privy Council nsed to sian his advice as such, and each could be made responsible. Now each function plays the same game of collective action, and Parliament ia paralysed, and will be so until Ministers cease to have double functions." "The mass of business is so van that every member ia helpless. Unles? that business be lessecel by local bodies all reforms are deluaive. From wearied brains you will not get vigilance, discernment, and wi3dom. Thus, like a despotic prince who fiDde rußi ness too tiresome, the member give^ himself over to a favorit9 minister." " Surely oar Parliamentnry system iB a barbarous simplicity. No virtue, no wiidom in rulers cen njske up, when Ihe defect of organs lays on them enorDBcos dctiea " "Municipalities were fi-it etrippprf of powers BDd corrupted for centralised intrigue. Two out of thrp* parliaments have been destroyed. From thie decay of local institutions centralism bes growa op." '• It ii not necessary that Ministers fiboald be all of ocp p%rty any more than were ibose of Qipen EPz«hpth. ParJy Govprnment should not be id<»no iical with Parliamentary Government The Government then wctsH represent the whole prople ; now it represent? one side only " Apolosisicg for tbe length of th r a commoaicatioD, I am, &c., An Electoe