1890-91. J NOTE ox ELECTORAL REPRESENTATION. 329 



scheme may be concluded in the author's words : " If by the means pro- 

 posed, or by any which are better and wiser, an electoral system can be 

 established which in the work of forming a representative body, shall 

 succeed in calling into action all the thought and intellect of the nation, 

 the effect would be to create a new object of enquiry and study, extending 

 over a field of which we know not the bounds. All attempts to engage 

 society in political conflicts for abstract principles would be henceforth 

 vain, and statesmen would seek to build their fame on something more 

 solid and durable than party triumphs." 



The great aim and desire of Messrs. Hare, Andrae, Fawcett, Mill, and 

 writers who share their opinions, have been to secure the representation of 

 minorities. Will it beheld as a political heresy to say that there should 

 be no minorities to represent ? But such is the view of the writer who 

 inclines to the opinion that, outside the walls of Parliament, minorities 

 and majorities should practically be unknown ; and moreover that 

 unless the whole electorate, as a body, finds its representation in the 

 national assembly, we do not obtain a true representative Parliament. 

 It is natural that there should be differences of opinion. Such diver- 

 gences of view are to be expected on ever)'' question brought forward 

 for decision, when considered on its merits ; and to act with ordinary 

 prudence and wisdom there should be deliberation in public affairs ; but 

 deliberation to be of any use must precede decision. It may be asked is 

 the public mind in the heat of a general election in the best state to 

 deliberate on all important legislative questions, or on any question ? 

 and can there be any effective deliberation without the electors coming 

 together? Both these queries can only be answered in the negative. 

 It is physically impossible for all the electors to meet in order to 

 •deliberate, and in consequence, deliberation can only be effected by 

 deputies or substitutes who assembling in a recognized form will satis- 

 factorily represent the electors, and by their deliberation and decisions 

 will effect substantially the same results as the electors themselves would 

 effect if they had deliberated and voted in one body. Thus it is that 

 Parliament properly constituted becomes the deliberative assembly of 

 the nation, and it is quite obvious, that deliberation and decision on all 

 questions ought to be the function of Parliament alone. This principle 

 being recognised, in Parliament majorities and minorities would be as 

 diversified as the questions discussed. Members in all cases would give 

 their votes according to their own clear, independent convictions, un- 

 fettered by pledges or party ties. A stereotyped majority and minority 

 are not possible in a true deliberative body ; there would, therefore, be 

 none in the free Parliament we have portrayed. If such a parliament 



