AblermeninDowningStreet，ablermentogovernus：yes，that，sureenough，wouldgraduallyremovethedung-mountains，howeverhightheyare；thatwouldbetheway，noristhereanyotherway，toremedywhatsoeverhasgonewronginDowningStreetandinthewideregions，spiritualandtemporal，whichDowningStreetpresidesover！FortheAbleMan，meethimwhereyoumay，isdefinableasthebornenemyofFalsityandAnarchy，andthebornsoldierofTruthandOrder：intowhatabsurdestelementsoeveryouputhim，heistheretomakeitalittlelessabsurd，tofightcontinuallywithittillitbecomealittlesaneandhumanagain。Peaceonothertermshe，forhispart，cannotmakewithit；nothe，whilehecontinues_able_，orpossessedofrealintellectandnotimaginary。Thereisbutonemanfraughtwithblessingsforthisworld，fatedtodiminishandsuccessivelyabolishthecursesoftheworld；anditishe。Forhimmakesearch，himreverenceandfollow；knowthattofindhimormisshim，meansvictoryordefeatforyou，inallDowningStreets，andestablishmentsandenterprisesherebelow——IleaveyourLordshiptojudgewhetherthishasbeenourpracticehitherto；andwouldhumblyinquirewhatyourLordshipthinksislikelytobetheconsequenceofcontinuingtoneglectthis。Itoughttohavebeenourpractice；ought，inallplacesandalltimes，tobethepracticeinthisworld；sosaysthefixedlawofthingsforevermore：——anditmustceasetobe_not_thepractice，yourLordship；andcannottoospeedilydosoIthink！——
　　MuchhasbeendoneinthewayofreformingParliamentinlateyears；butthatofitselfseemstoavailnothing，oralmostless。
　　ThementhatsitinDowningStreet，governingus，arenotablermensincetheReformBillthanwerethosebeforeit。Preciselythesamekindofmen；obedientformerlytoTorytraditions，obedientnowtoWhigdittoandpopularclamors。Respectablemenofoffice：respectablycommonplaceinfacility，——whilethesituationisbecomingterriblyoriginal！Renderingtheiroutlooks，andours，moreominouseveryday。
　　Indisputablyenoughthemeaningofallreform-movement，electingandelectioneering，ofpopularagitation，parliamentaryeloquence，andallpoliticaleffortwhatsoever，isthatyoumaygetthetenAblestMeninEnglandputtopresideoveryourtenprincipaldepartmentsofaffairs。TosiftandriddletheNation，sothatyoumightextricateandsiftoutthetruetengoldgrains，orablestmen，andofthesemakeyourGovernorsorPublicOfficers；leavingthedrossandcommonsandyorsiltymaterialsafelyaside，asthethingtobegoverned，nottogovern；
　　certainlyallballot-boxes，caucuses，Kennington-Commonmeetings，Parliamentarydebatings，RedRepublics，RussianDespotisms，andconstitutionalorunconstitutionalmethodsofsocietyamongmankind，areintendedtoachievethisoneend；andsomeofthem，itwillbeowned，achieveitveryill！——Ifyouhavegotyourgoldgrains，ifthemenyouhavegotareactuallytheablest，thenrejoice；withwhateverastonishment，acceptyourTen，andthankthegods；underthisTenyourdestructionwillatleastbemilderthanunderanother。Butifyouhave_not_gotthem，ifyouareveryfarfromhavinggotthem，thendonotrejoiceatall，then_lament_verymuch；thenadmitthatyoursublimepoliticalconstitutionsandcontrivancesdonotprovethemselvessublime，butridiculousandcontemptible；thatyourworld’swonderofapoliticalmill，theenvyofsurroundingnations，doesnotyieldyourealmeal；yieldsyouonlypowderofmillstonescalledHansardDebatings，andadetestablebrownsubstancenotunlikethegrindingsofdriedhorse-dungorpreparedstreet-mud，whichthoughsoldunderroyalpatent，andmuchrecommendedbythetrade，isquiteunfitforculinarypurposes！——
　　Butthediseaseatleastisnotmysterious，whatevertheremedybe。Ourdisease，——alas，isitnotclearasthesun，thatwesufferunderwhatisthediseaseofallthemiserableinthisworld，_wantofwisdom_；thatintheHeadthereisnovision，andthattherebyallthemembersaredarkandinbonds？Novisioninthehead；heroism，faith，devoutinsighttodiscernwhatisneedful，noblecouragetodoit，greatlydefectivethere：notseeingeyesthere，butspectaclesconstitutionallyground，which，totheunwary，_seem_tosee。Aquitefatalcircumstance，hadyouneversomanyParliaments！HowisyourshiptobesteeredbyaPilotwithno_eyes_butapairofglassonesgotfromtheconstitutionaloptician？Hemuststeerbythe_ear_，Ithink，ratherthanbytheeye；bytheshoutingshecatchesfromtheshore，orfromtheParliamentarybenchesnearerhand：——oneofthefrightfulestobjectstoseesteeringinadifficultsea！
　　ReformedParliamentsinthatcase，reform-leagues，outeragitationsandexcitementsinneversuchabundance，cannotprofit：allthisisbutthewrithing，andpainfulblindconvulsionofthelimbsthatareinbonds，thatareallindarkmiserytilltheheadbedelivered，tillthepressureonthebrainberemoved。
　　OrperhapsthereisnownoheroicwisdomleftinEngland；
　　England，oncethelandofheroes，isitselfsunknowtoadimowlery，andhabitationofdolefulcreatures，intentonlyonmoney-makingandotherformsofcatchingmice，forwhomthepropergospelisthegospelofM’Croudy，andallnoblerimpulsesandinsightsareforbiddenhenceforth？PerhapsthesepresentagreeableOccupantsofDowningStreet，suchastheparliamentarymillhasyieldedthem，arethe_best_themiserablesoilhadgrown？ThemostHerculeanTenMenthatcouldbefoundamongtheEnglishTwenty-sevenMillions，arethese？There_are_not，inanyplace，underanyfigure，tendivinermenamongus？Well；inthatcase，theriddlingandsearchingofthetwenty-sevenmillionshasbeen_successful_。Hereareourtendivinestmen；
　　withthese，unhappilynotdivineenough，wemustevencontentourselvesanddieinpeace；whathelpisthere？Nohelp，nohope，inthatcase。
　　But，again，iftheseare_not_ourdivinestmen，thenevidentlytherealwaysishope，therealwaysispossibilityofhelp；andruinneverisquiteinevitable，tillwe_have_siftedoutouractuallydivinestten，andsetthesetotrytheirbandatgoverning！——Thatthishasbeenachieved；thatthesetenmenarethemostHerculeansoulstheEnglishpopulationheldwithinit，isapropositioncredibletonomortal。No，thankGod；lowaswearesunkinmanyways，thisisnotyetcredible！Evidentlythereverseofthispropositionisthefact。Tenmuchdivinermendocertainlyexist。Bysomeconceivable，notforeverimpossible，methodandmethods，tenverymuchdivinermencouldbesiftedout！——Courage；letusfixoureyesonthatimportantfact，andstriveallthitherwardastowardsadoorofhope！
　　Parliaments，Ithink，haveprovedtoowell，inlateyears，thattheyarenottheremedy。ItisnotParliaments，reformedorother，thatwilleversendHerculeanmentoDowningStreet，toreformDowningStreetforus；todiffusetherefromalightofHeavenlyOrder，insteadofthemurkofStygianAnarchy，overthissadworldofours。ThatfunctiondoesnotlieinthecapacitiesofParliment。Thatisthefunctionofa_King_，——ifwecouldgetsuchapricelessentity，whichwecannotjustnow！Failingwhich，Statesmen，orTemporaryKings，andattheverylowestonerealStatesman，toshapethedimtendenciesofParliament，andguidethemwiselytothegoal：he，Iperceive，willbeaprimarycondition，indispensableforanyprogresswhatsoever。
　　Onesuch，perhaps，mightbeattained；onesuchmightprovediscoverableamongourParliamentarypopulations？Thatone，insuchanenterpriseasthisofDowningStreet，mightbeinvaluable！Onenobleman，atonceofnaturalwisdomandpracticalexperience；oneIntellectstillreallyhuman，andnotred-tapish，owlishandpedantical，appearingthereinthatdimchaos，withwordofcommand；tobrandishHercules-likethedivinebroomandshovel，andturnrunningwaterinupontheplace，andsayaswithafiat，“Hereshallbetruth，andrealwork，andtalenttodoithenceforth；Iwillseekforablementoworkhere，asfortheelixiroflifetothispoorplaceandme：“——whatmightnotonesuchmaneffectthere！
　　Nayonesuchisnottobedispensedwithanywhere。intheaffairsofmen。Ineveryship，Isay，theremustbea_seeing_
　　pilot，notamerehearingone！Itisevidentyoucannevergetyourshipsteeredthroughthedifficultstraitsbypersonsstandingashore，onthisbankandthat，andshouting_their_
　　confuseddirectionstoyou：“’WarethatColonialSandbank！——Starboardnow，theNiggerQuestion！——Larboard，_larboard_，theSuffrageMovement！FinancialReform，yourClothing-Colonelsoverboard！TheQualificationMovement，’Ware-re-re！——Helm-a-lee！Bearahandthere，willyou！Hr-r-r，lubbers，imbeciles，fitterforatailor’sshopboardthanahelmofGovernment，Hr-r-r！“——Andsotheshipwrigglesandtumbles，and，onthewhole，goesaswindandcurrentdrive。Noshipwaseversteeredexcepttodestructioninthatmanner。I
　　deliberatelysayso：noshipofaStateeither。Ifyoucannotgetarealpilotonboard，andputthehelmintohishands，yourshipisasgoodasawreck。Onerealpilotonboardmaysaveyou；allthebellowingfromthebanksthateverwas，willnot，andbythenatureofthingscannot。Nayyourpilotwillhavetosucceed，ifhedosucceed，verymuchinspiteofsaidbellowing；
　　hewillhearallthat，andregardverylittleofit，——inapatientmild-spokenwisemanner，willregardallofitaswhatitis。AndIneverdoubtbutthereisinParliamentitself，inspiteofitsvaguepalaveringswhichfilluswithdespairinthesetimes，adumbinstinctofinarticulatesenseandstubbornpracticalEnglishinsightandveracity，thatwouldmanfullysupportaStatesmanwhocouldtakecommandwithreallymanfulnotionsofReform，andasonedeservingtobeobeyed。Ohforonesuch；evenone！MoreprecioustousthanallthebullionintheBank，orperhapsthateverwasinit，justnow！
　　ForitisWisdomalonethatcanrecognizewisdom：FollyorImbecilitynevercan；andthatisthefatalestbanitlaborsunder，doomingittoperpetualfailureinallthings。Failurewhich，inDowningStreetandplacesof_command_isespeciallyaccursed；cursingnotonebuthundredsofmillions！Whoistherethatcanrecognizerealintellect，anddoreverencetoit；anddiscriminateitwellfromshamintellect，whichissomuchmoreabundant，anddeservesthereverseofreverence？Hethathimselfhasit！——OnereallyhumanIntellect，investedwithcommand，andchargedtoreformDowningStreetforus，wouldcontinuallyattractrealintellecttothoseregions，andwithadivinemagnetismsearchitoutfromthemodestcornerswhereitlieshid。AndeverynewaccessionofintellecttoDowningStreetwouldbringtoitbenefitonly，andwouldincreasesuchdivineattractioninit，theparentofallbenefitthereandelsewhere！
　　“Whatmethod，then；bywhatmethod？“askmany。Method，alas！TosecureanincreasedsupplyofHumanIntellecttoDowningStreet，therewillevidentlybenoquiteeffectual“method“butthatofincreasingthesupplyofHumanIntellect，otherwisedefinableasHumanWorth，inSocietygenerally；increasingthesupplyofsacredreverenceforit，ofloyaltytoit，andoflife-and-deathdesireandpursuitofit，amongallclasses，——ifwebutknewsucha“method“！Alas，thatweresimplythemethodofmakingallclassesServantsofHeaven；andexceptitbedevoutprayertoHeaven，Ihaveneverheardofanymethod！ToincreasethereverenceforHumanIntellectorGod’sLight，andthedetestationofHumanStupidityortheDevil’sDarkness，whatmethodisthere？
　　Nomethod，——excepteventhis，thatweshouldeachofus“pray“
　　forit，insteadofprayingformerescripandthelike；thatHeavenwouldpleasetovouchsafeuseachalittleofit，onebyone！AsperhapsHeaven，initsinfinitebounty，bysternmethods，graduallywill？PerhapsHeavenhasmercytoointhesesoreplaguesthatareoppressingus；andmeanstoteachusreverenceforHeroismandHumanIntellect，bysuchbalefulexperienceofwhatissueImbecilityandParliamentaryEloquenceleadto？Suchreverence，Idohope，andevendiscoverandobserve，issilentlyyetextensivelygoingonamonguseveninthesesadyears。Inwhichsmallsalutaryfactthereburnsforus，inthisblackcoilofuniversalbasenessfastbecominguniversalwretchedness，aninextinguishablehope；far-offbutsure，adivine“pillaroffirebynight。“Courage，courage！——
　　Meanwhile，thatouronereformingStatesmanmayhavefreecommandofwhatIntellectthereisamongus，androomtotryallmeansforawakeningandinvitingevermoreofit，therehasonesmallProjectofImprovementbeensuggested；whichfindsacertaindegreeoffavorwhereverIhearittalkedof，andwhichseemstomeritmuchmoreconsiderationthanithasyetreceived。
　　Practicalmenthemselvesapproveofithitherto，sofarasitgoes；theoneobjectionbeingthattheworldisnotyetpreparedtoinsistonit，——whichofcoursetheworldcanneverbe，tilloncetheworldconsiderit，andinthefirstplaceheartellofit！Ihave，formyownpart，agoodopinionofthisproject。
　　TheoldunreformedParliamentofrottenboroughs_had_oneadvantage；butthatishereby，inafarmorefruitfulandeffectualmanner，securedtothenew。
　　TheProposalis，ThatSecretariesunderandupper，thatallmannerofchangeableorpermanentservantsintheGovernmentOfficesshallbeselectedwithoutreferencetotheirpowerofgettingintoParliament；——that，inshort，theQueenshallhavepowerofnominatingthehalf-dozenorhalf-scoreOfficersoftheAdministration，whosepresenceisthoughtnecessaryinParliament，toofficialseatsthere，withoutreferencetoanyconstituencybutherownonly，whichofcoursewillmeanherPrimeMinister’s。AverysmallencroachmentonthepresentconstitutionofParliament；offeringtheminimumofchangeinpresentmethods，andIalmostthinkamaximuminresultstobederivedtherefrom——TheQueennominatesJohnThomasthefittestmanshe，muchinquiring，canheartellofinherthreekingdoms