1890-91.] NOTE ON ELECTORAL REPRESENTATION. 319 



brings the organized parties of the present day into being, and which 

 animates and intensifies party feehng. It is this defect which leads to 

 party abuses and vices, and while this defect remains, improvement is 

 not probable, indeed, unless humanity changes its nature, it may be 

 •affirmed that any marked improvement is not possible. 



Glancing over the pages of history, it cannot be denied that a party had 

 its good side as well as its bad in the early days of representative govern- 

 ment. There were special objects to be attained, and questions of great 

 importance to be settled. But great questions do not last forever, in 

 some way they are disposed of, and one by one disappear from the 

 political surface. If parties had depended on great questions to keep 

 them alive, they would have long since perished, and would not to-day 

 be known as permanent organizations. With truth it may be said that 

 we stand upon the graves of great questions, and it is impossible to con- 

 ceive that the ghosts of dead issues arc of themselves sufficient to main- 

 tain the vitality of parties for any length of time. But every effect is 

 associated with a cause, and the parties which flourish to-day have other 

 and adequate cause for their continued activity. Until this cause be 

 removed, parties will survive as living antagonistic forces to disturb 

 the peace and political harmony of the nation. Until the day comes 

 when Parliament shall be properly constituted, and we have represen- 

 tative government, in fact, we cannot look for a truce in political war- 

 fare ; until the whole electorate be fairly represented in the national 

 assembly — a cessation of hostilities is, in the nature of things, impossible. 



In order clearly to understand a guiding principle of party govern- 

 ment and gain an insight into the ideas of leading party men, let us 

 endeavor to ascertain their aims and aspirations. Suppose we ask those 

 in opposition to the ruling power what their views are with respect 

 to the future. Will they not declare their determination to gain office, 

 and that their hope and desire is to hold the reins of government 

 permanently ? If we make the same enquiry of the ruling party, will 

 they not tell us that they have no intention of throwing up the power 

 they hold, and that they will, if they can, retain power always. 



Is not the cardinal idea of each party, that it shall exclusively rule? 

 That is to say, the ideal government of each for itself is a class govern- 

 ment, the class to consist of the men of the party. If this be the logical 

 inference it seems to be indisputable, that party government is utterly at 

 variance with free institutions. 



All history goes to prove, and it is indeed a necessary result of our 

 human nature that the end of government is primarily and essentially 

 21 



