REPRESENTATION OF THE MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 245, 22 July 1872, Page 3

REPRESENTATION OF THE MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT.

[Thu following interesting lecture was delivered at the Thames Mechanics’ Institute Debating Class, mi Friday evening last, by Mr John Leith, and as it is a ratln-r important subject, we submit it to i lie notice of our r aders.] In introducing (he subject of the representation of minorities in the House of lt-pr se t fives, I think it advisable, first, to cnisi.ior : if it is accessary for tlutm to

•a* r presented. Then, i ousider th it ns universal suffrage is becoming ilio order of the day, and cons ipi i:tiy a coiitiumiliy merea-ing number of untrained au I unthinking in n ar- becoming, or have become, “el c 10.5," who inav he expected to he ms I)’ led away during any great political excitein nt, lo play into the hands o! a pally vho wish lo carry out a scli-m • .ly for the hen lit of the people, nut wiiic.li, in fad, is really to lindr disadvantage; a fact, that the more intellig lit may he quite able to see, hut they will he out voted at the hustings by the mass, who look only at the surface, and, perhaps, slightly at that. “ t hen, is it nor a mistake to allow only the majority to discuss the merits of measures brought before the House? “ Is it not a misnomer to call this a representation of tlie people? “Under these circumstances; is it not advisable that the minority ‘ should be repieseiited,’ tlint they may, by the presence of their representatives lie ready to ‘steady the helm’ when the political ship is running upon tlie ‘ rocks of i lass rule,’ for all these rocks are equally dangreous? “ We have been so long accustomed to abide by tlie decision of the majority at elections that we have got used to it, and quietly submit to be unrepresented, and wait patiently till there shall he another election. For till then the minority have no chance of being heard in the House, if then.”

Therefore, as a representative Government,in the true sense of the word, means a representation of the whole, the minority should be represented. If it is not, the representation is less than the whole,and is, therefore, wrong. For it cannot be a representative Government of the people, unless the minority is included, to make up the whole. i'ueii comes the question—How are the minorities to be represented? I think it would be advisable that the electors sin uld have tlie right to vote for the candidate whose views coincide with theirs, as near as 111113' be, no matter in which constituency the candidate may he. Dor the candidate holding the epinion of the minority in whatever constituency he might put up for, would have better chance of being elected in any one district, though he was known to be a man of large mind and sound principles. But allowing electois (lie right to vote outside tneir own constituency the minority would secure a good representative out of the many able men that would be willing to come forward “ under these circumstances,” m-n, who though possessed of known talent, would not come forward to contest an election against the class that rules under tlie present S3’stem. The minority having this right would then use their best endeavours to get in the best man to represent their views, and all electors would take more interest in the political well arc of the country than they do at present; where to be in the minority means that tlie}' arc to be unrepresented. Besides, if often happens that neither of the candidates i tfering for a eonstitu uey are the men wanted by a large portion of the majority of the electors.” the consequence is that these electors very often *’ do not vote at all.” But if Hie electors know 1 hat they have the right to make tln-ir choice of candidates tr..m amongst tiieins Ives, or 1 ruin another « onstitiieuc.y, that they ap rove uf, then, I think, the minorities would ruise then.selves up lug 1 me he.-d lab-nt that was to he Ita.l to represent them ; and then, a sound pmdic opinion Would he the result.

I do not hold with the idea that hecan ® certain members are returned at ilic hustings that these members represent the opinion of the country. “ No, they only represe.it the majority of the electors who have actually voted, many electors not having voted at all.” Therefore it seems to me that if the electors had the right to vole for the man whose abilities they approved, though lie should be found in another constituency’, then I think the “ Problem of representing the minority would he solved.” Foi men of known ability would be brought out, and find their place in the council of their country ; and the electors would throw off the apathy that now exists ; and they would take more interest, and use more discretion in their voting ; and, in time, the whole political atmosphere would be clearer. The right men would gradually ! fall into the right place, and the people would be represented, and class rule would be at an end ,and democracy would be rid of its greatest enemy.