1890-91.] NOTE ON ELECTORAL REPRESENTATION. 325 



of electors. Its summit, a ministerial body the choice of the represent- 

 ative body, and from the apex of this noble political pyramid would be 

 reflected the lustre of the Imperial Crown itself. What constitutional 

 fabric could be imagined which would give greater unity, greater solidity, 

 and greater dignity? 



Many will agree with the writer that it is our duty to face the problem of 

 our political difficulties, and make representative government in practice, 

 what it professes to be in theory — Government of the whole by the 

 whole. He has elsewhere submitted his views and offered suggestions 

 as to the means of overcoming the evils of our present system. He 

 disclaims any pretence to regard the alternative he has submitted as the 

 only or the best solution. In recognizing the gravity of the situation, 

 which indeed is apparent to each of us, he feels that we must, in all 

 ■earnestness, try to supplement the shortcomings, and eradicate the 

 vices, of politics ; with that view he has ventured to offer to the 

 public the opinions he has formed, simply as a humble contribution to the 

 consideration of a vital question in which we are all concerned. One 

 feature of the proposal may require a word of explanation. An electoral 

 system was suggested by which small groups of electors having identical 

 opinions would select deputies by whom and from whom the ultimate 

 representatives would be chosen, the design being to give every elector an 

 equal interest in the election, and through the members elected, an equal 

 voice in Parliament and an equal indirect share in the government. In 

 ■order peacefully to overcome every obstacle and remove all possibility of 

 friction in special cases the writer suggested falling back on the Apos- 

 tolic method of settlement by Lot. It is not a new principle of settle- 

 ment in matters where disputes might otherwise arise ; it is sanctioned 

 by the Old and New Testaments, it is employed to-day and has been 

 employed with great advantage for centuries by the Moravians, in select- 

 ing fit men for the ministerial office. If employed at all in any electoral 

 system, its use should be restricted to those cases in which no deci- 

 sive judgment could otherwise be formed, and invariably its use should 

 be exercised with due solemnity, if held expedient, before a court of 

 justice. 



The writer has ventured to suggest, as a corollary to the proposed 

 rectification of Parliament, that the executive council should be nomin- 

 ated by the assembled representatives of the people. There are reasons 

 for limiting the term of office of ministers, while at the same time there 

 are important advantages to accrue from a continuity of administration. 

 Both objects might be attained by an arrangement which would necessi- 

 tate the retirement of a certain proportion of ministers by rotation each 



