of suffrage, it is true, had not been extended to
women, but this was the rule throughout colonial America. Popular
sovereignty, in its qualified eighteenth-century sense, was a basic
characteristic of the political democracy which existed on this
frontier.

Political equality, that is "one man, one vote," was practiced by the
pioneers of the West Branch. There was no additional vote given to the
large property owners; in fact, as the tax lists indicate, there were no
large property owners within the geographic limits of the Fair Play
territory. Thus, each man, rather than a small ruling oligarchy, had the
opportunity to participate in the decision-making process of the Fair
Play community.

In a democratic society, the people must be consulted by the policy
makers prior to their exercise of the power of decision. Among the Fair
Play settlers this basically democratic principle was vividly
demonstrated in the case of disputed land titles, the primary concern of
the Fair Play men. In both Eleanor Coldren's deposition in behalf of her
deceased husband and in the Huff-Latcha case, it was established that
the unanimous consent of the prospective neighbors had to be obtained
before a favorable decision was rendered in behalf of the land
claimants.[6] The frequency of elections, combined with the ease and
regularity of assembly, provided the settlers with the opportunity to
become acquainted with the circumstances of their problems. Here again,
the paucity of specific data prompts us to some speculation regarding
the nature and location of these meetings. However, it must be added,
the Hamilton pension papers and the petitions to the Supreme Council in
Philadelphia refer specifically to meetings at Fort Horn and Fort
Antes.[7] Direct representation based upon popular consultation was a
distinct trait of the political democracy in the Fair Play territory.

The fourth principle of political democracy, majority rule, is probably
the most controversial and confusing element of the combination.
Absolute majority rule, its critics tell us, means majority "tyranny"
and minority acquiescence, despite the fact that this fear is not
empirically demonstrable.[8] The majority ruled absolutely in the Fair
Play territory just as it did in the New England town meeting, and with
similar results. However, it never restricted suffrage or public office
to particular religious or nationality groups. Scotch-Irish, English,
and German settlers