The "ticket"
system, it is contended, would, as it does in America, operate
solely in favour of the great organised parties, whose tickets would
be accepted blindly, and voted for in their integrity; and would
hardly ever be outvoted, except occasionally, by the sectarian groups,
or knots of men bound together by a common crotchet who have been
already spoken of.
The answer to this appears to be conclusive. No one pretends that
under Mr. Hare's or any other plan organisation would cease to be an
advantage. Scattered elements are always at a disadvantage compared
with organised bodies. As Mr. Hare's plan cannot alter the nature of
things, we must expect that all parties or sections, great or small,
which possess organisation, would avail themselves of it to the utmost
to strengthen their influence. But under the existing system those
influences are everything. The scattered elements are absolutely
nothing. The voters who are neither bound to the great political nor
to any of the little sectarian divisions have no means of making their
votes available. Mr. Hare's plan gives them the means. They might be
more, or less, dexterous in using it. They might obtain their share of
influence, or much less than their share. But whatever they did
acquire would be clear gain. And when it is assumed that every petty
interest, or combination for a petty object, would give itself an
organisation, why should we suppose that the great interest of
national intellect and character would alone remain unorganised? If
there would be Temperance tickets, and Ragged School tickets, and
the like, would not one public-spirited person in a constituency be
sufficient to put forth a "personal merit" ticket, and circulate it
through a whole neighbourhood? And might not a few such persons,
meeting in London, select from the list of candidates the most
distinguished names, without regard to technical divisions of opinion,
and publish them at a trifling expense through all the constituencies?
It must be remembered that the influence of the two great parties,
under the present mode of election, is unlimited: in Mr.
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