XxxviL] ON MINORITY REPRESENTATION. 925

spondent did less than justice to the Government, and more
than justice to the Canadians, Mr. Bright, meanwhile, was
working for their views in a different direction, insisting on
the proposition for which he had been fighting ever since
the repeal of the Corn Law, that nothing good could be done
until the representation was improved. He began the new
year with a powerful speech at Birmingham, to Cobden’s
great satisfaction :—
“Jan.16. (ToMr. Bright.)—I see your meeting at Birmingham
 is fixed. You will, I suppose, have something to say
about Reform. What is wanted is to slay and bury those delusive
 projects which have of late owed their existence to men
who wish to mystify the simple question of principle, and
lead the public astray after crotchetty details of their own.
Of these Lord Grey and Buxton are the most notable. But
I suppose you are aware that Stuart Mill bas endorsed
Hare’s incomprehensible scheme. It is a pity that Mill,
who on the whole is so admirable in his sympathies and
tendencies, should give his sanction to these novelties. (I
got a letter the other day from an old Leaguer in Australia,
saying that the Protectionists there are quoting Mill to
justify a young community in resorting for a time to Protection.)
 It has always appeared to me that the best way to
meet the wishes of those who honestly fear that particular
classes or bodies of the community may be unrepresented,
is to make the electoral districts as diversified as possible.
With this view I would allow each constituency to return
one representative. Thus, for instance, if Birmingham had
six members, they should be elected by six wards. This
would give every section of the community the opporbunity
 of suiting itself. The idea of giving representation
to minorities is an absurdity. It strikes at the very foundations
 of representative government by majorities. It ignores
 the fact that opinion is always represented by minori-1866.


Ar. 60.