Verwandte Artikel zu The Machinery of Representation
Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1857 Excerpt: ... second head, are:--1st, The reconstruction of electoral districts. 2nd, The prevention of bribery, whether in the shape of a money payment, or the exercise of official patronage. And, 3rd, The ballot. Of the redistribution of the electoral districts, it may at least be said that it will not in any measure extend the range of individual choice, or necessarily secure a member with higher qualifications. Other objects it may accomplish, but these will not be amongst their number. If every constituency were as numerous as Manchester, we find that one of the most distinguished members of the legislature might yet in vain appear before them for re-election. Of the prevention of bribery and of the ballot,--the liberation of the electors from corruption and constraint--from being improperly influenced by their cupidity or their fears,--more hopes are entertained by ardent politicians. It may be useful to inquire into the nature, as well as the extent, of the evils for which these remedies are required. Mr. Berkeley, the President of the Ballot Society, states, that under the system of open voting, a full third of the electors of the country cannot faithfully discharge their duty of voting conscientiously. The possibility of this control is plainly a snare for the conscience, and must, therefore, be more or less demoralising in its results. As with other moral evils, it is obviously an universal duty to discourage and repress it by all appropriate means. It is like an unjust tax, or a partial disability--a personal hardship upon individuals operating perhaps indirectly, as other social evils do, upon the whole community, but not otherwise acting in a manner directly prejudicial to the efficiency of its representative institutions. The ballot is not advocated as a pa...
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