Speech of John Stuart Mill delivered in the House of Commons, May 29, 1867

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 Excerpt: ... however, in an able and influential organ of the public press, that the Law does not in practice attain the ends to which it is directed in theory, and that it affords no virtual guarantee for the representation of majorities and minorities in just and adequate proportion. This is a serious charge, and if it were fully established it would involve a decisive condemnation of the whole Law as being, in point of practical legislation, a complete failure. I shall, therefore, proceed to exemplify clearly the arguments with which this charge is supported, by a problem that has been elaborately prepared, and triumphantly put forward by the most intelligent and energetic of Mr. Andre's political opponents. This problem, indeed, concentrates in very close compass, and illustrates in very plausible form, the whole gist of objection. Let us suppose (it is said) that, in conformity with Mr. Andrse's system, three representatives are to be elected by a constituency of 600 voters. This may be supposed to be the case, for instance, in the district of Lolland-Falster.f Let it be further supposed that the candidates are five in number, viz., A, B, C, D, and E, representing, of course, different political parties. Again, let it be supposed that, out of the whole body of electors (consisting of 600) 299 voters record their votes in favour of A, B, and D, in the order here given; that 200 voters record their votes in favour See the " Landsthing Tidende," account of the Debate of June 6, 1863. f See the Note giving the electoral districts. of A, C, and B, in the order here given, and 101 voters in favour of A, C, and E, in the order here given. The voting lists will then be composed as follows:--The President now opens the elections by dividing the total number of th...