State Legislation 87 



rage may continue for a number of years to repre- 

 sent an honest constituency. 



THE CONSTITUENTS LARGELY TO BLAME 



MOREOVER, a member from a large city can often 

 count upon the educated and intelligent men of his 

 district showing the most gross ignorance and stu- 

 pidity in political affairs. The much-lauded intelli- 

 gent voter the man of cultured mind, liberal edu- 

 cation, and excellent intentions at times performs 

 exceedingly queer antics. 



The great public meetings to advance certain po- 

 litical movements irrespective of party, which have 

 been held so frequently during the past few years, 

 have undoubtedly done a vast amount of good ; but 

 the very men who attend these public meetings and 

 inveigh against the folly and wickedness of the poli- 

 ticians will sometimes on election day do things 

 which have quite as evil effects as any of the acts 

 of the men whom they very properly condemn. A 

 recent instance of this is worth giving. In 1882 

 there was in the Assembly a young member from 

 New York, who did as hard and effective work for 

 the City of New York as has ever been done by 

 any one. It was a peculiarly disagreeable year to be 

 in the Legislature. The composition of that body 

 was unusually bad. The more disreputable politi- 

 cians relied upon it to pass some of their schemes 

 and to protect certain of their members from the 

 consequences of their own misdeeds. Demagogic 

 measures were continually brought forward, nomi- 



