Page:Thomas Hare - The Election of Representatives, parliamentary and municipal.djvu/11



criticism of seven years on this method of relieving electors from the artificial restraints which impede the freedom of action in representative institutions may be summed up in a few words,—that it is too complicated to be practical,—that it is hostile to our local system,—and that it would admit of abuse from party organization. If the first objection were true it would be insurmountable: the second would be an obstacle to the adoption of the method. If the last had any foundation, in its exposure to party influence it would still deserve a comparison with our present system. Apart from these supposed objections,—a system which would bring home to every elector the feeling of actual and personal responsibility,—convert what are no only majorities into unanimous constituencies, and mischievous and demoralizing contests into efforts of honourable emulation,—in which all moral and intellectual elements would have their direct expression and just force, and the corruption that remained would be confined within such natural and inevitable limits as to take from it nearly all its political and most of its personal evil,—has met with very general approbation.

First, as to the alleged complexity. The system, while it gives to every elector the most ample choice of candidates, makes a vote effectual in the election of one only. It is therefore necessary to provide for the probability that men of great popularity and eminence will have a large number of