330 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. II. 



can be constituted, if it be possible to elect members on some better 

 plan than that now followed, and on sounder principles than that 

 of a numerical majority, the foundation of standing parties would dis- 

 appear. Neither inside nor outside of Parliament would there be the 

 same causes to develop the growth of the dualism which now exists. 

 There would be an absence of purpose in any effort to inflame the 

 passions or stimulate antagonism in the community. In place of 

 these evils there would be scope and encouragement for the awaken- 

 ing of a calm patriotism, and the nobler instincts of all classes, and 

 under such conditions, it is believed that men of capacity and wisdom, 

 and of good conscience, with minds evenly balanced, would obtain the 

 best chance of being chosen as representatives. A Parliament thus 

 constituted would, as much as it could be possible, be free from a 

 contentious spirit. Its members would be in a fit state to exercise their 

 highest reason in the positions they had been selected to fill. 



If the means be put in practice of constituting a Parliament of the 

 whole people, by whatever plan may ultimately be found best, the great 

 and permanent cause of political conflict would be removed, inasmuch as 

 no interest would be excluded from the legislative body, and no indi- 

 vidual elector would be deprived of his fair share in the general govern- 

 ment through Parliament, in which he would be represented. Thus it 

 would result that party organizations would lose support, their lines of 

 cleavage would be obliterated, and the party divisions which now form a 

 dualism in the State would disappear and practically become blended 

 into one. No doubt occasions would from time to time arise, when mem- 

 bers in Parliament would differ in opinion on important questions, and 

 those of the same way of thinking would co-operate in order to carry 

 their views to a successful issue. Under such circumstances it might, 

 with truth, be said that the combinations formed would be of the nature 

 of parties, but they would be merely special and temporary associations, 

 to cease in each case as the questions would be disposed of. There would 

 no longer be the same cause to induce the organization of permanent 

 parties with their members arrayed as foemen one side against the other 

 — voting on all questions identically. There would be no raison d'etre 

 for two such antagonistic forces, as now exist, with fixed antipathies, dis- 

 puting under party banners every inch of ground, and mutually wasting 

 their energies in ceasless conflict. 



It will be generally admitted among thoughtful men that one of the 

 most pressing needs of the Canadian people at this moment is the satis- 

 factory solution of the problem set forth ; and the purpose of these brief 



