The electors who are on a different
side in party politics from the local majority are unrepresented. Of
those who are on the same side, a large proportion are misrepresented;
having been obliged to accept the man who had the greatest number of
supporters in their political party, though his opinions may differ
from theirs on every other point. The state of things is, in some
respects, even worse than if the minority were not allowed to vote
at all; for then, at least, the majority might have a member who would
represent their own best mind: while now, the necessity of not
dividing the party, for fear of letting in its opponents, induces
all to vote either for the first person who presents himself wearing
their colours, or for the one brought forward by their local
leaders; and these, if we pay them the compliment, which they very
seldom deserve, of supposing their choice to be unbiassed by their
personal interests, are compelled, that they may be sure of
mustering their whole strength, to bring forward a candidate whom none
of the party will strongly object to- that is, a man without any
distinctive peculiarity, any known opinions except the shibboleth of
the party.
This is strikingly exemplified in the United States; where, at the
election of President, the strongest party never dares put forward any
of its strongest men, because every one of these, from the mere fact
that he has been long in the public eye, has made himself
objectionable to some portion or other of the party, and is
therefore not so sure a card for rallying all their votes as a
person who has never been heard of by the public at all until he is
produced as the candidate.
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